Michael Chong, Wellington—Halton Hills North
“U.S. tariffs are hurting Ontario's car industry. Car makers have paid $5 billion in tariffs over the last year, and exports to the U.S. are dropping fast. The government is moving too slowly to negotiate an end to these tariffs, and auto workers need relief now.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am raising the alarm bells about Ontario’s auto sector. The sector depends on access to the U.S. market. The sector has paid $5 billion in tariffs over the last year. Passenger, car and light truck exports to the United States are plummeting. The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association has said, “You cannot have a commercially viable automotive plant in Canada facing tariffs of that size.” Toyota has said that tariffs have made manufacturing in Ontario “unsustainable”. However, the government has given no date for formal negotiations on section 232 tariffs, unlike Mexico, and no explanation for the decision to go slow on the tariff negotiations. The auto sector and its workers are worried about the status quo. They need to know when tariff relief is in sight. Bleeding $5 billion a year is unsustainable. Something is going to break. The auto sector is running out of time while the government goes slow on its approach to the tariff negotiations.”
Mr. Speaker, I am raising the alarm bells about Ontario’s auto sector. The sector depends on access to the U.S. market. The sector has paid $5 billion in tariffs over the last year. Passenger, car and light truck exports to the United States are plummeting. The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association has said, “You cannot have a commercially viable automotive plant in Canada facing tariffs of that size.” Toyota has said that tariffs have made manufacturing in Ontario “unsustainable”. However, the government has given no date for formal negotiations on section 232 tariffs, unlike Mexico, and no explanation for the decision to go slow on the tariff negotiations. The auto sector and its workers are worried about the status quo. They need to know when tariff relief is in sight. Bleeding $5 billion a year is unsustainable. Something is going to break. The auto sector is running out of time while the government goes slow on its approach to the tariff negotiations.