Niagara Falls MPP Says Trade Deal Could Mean Massive Job Losses In Auto Industry

News from the Office of Niagara Falls, Ontario MPP Wayne Gates

TPP to put 20,000 jobs in auto industry at risk: NDP

Queen’s Park, Ontario, October 7^th, 2015 – NDP MPP for Niagara Falls and Transportation Critic Wayne Gates questioned Acting Premier Charles Sousa this morning in the legislature about the Ontario Government’s support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Niagara Falls, Ontario MPP Wayne Gates

The TPP is expected to have a devastating impact on jobs in the auto sector.“This week it was announced that the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement was signed. The agreement is going to be bad for our rural communities, bad for manufacturing, bad for healthcare costs, and very bad for the auto sector.

It’s good to see at least one Federal Leader is standing up and opposing the deal and hopefully your party will have the courage to do the same,” Gates said. “Acting Premier, with this deal looming on the horizon what is this government going to do to protect the good jobs in manufacturing and the auto sector that so many people in Niagara, Oshawa, the GTA, Brampton and Windsor rely on?” Gates asked.

The trade agreement that was just inked by Harper’s Conservatives is estimated to put approximately 20,000 jobs in the auto and manufacturing industries at risk. In September, the Prime Minister admitted the auto sector may not benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement despite campaigning on a promise to funnel more money into the auto industry.

“What is this government going to do to help the workers they will put out of their good paying manufacturing jobs in Niagara and right across the province get back to work?” Gates asked.“Jerry Dias, the President of Unifor has said that more than 20,000 Canadians will lose their jobs because of this. Niagara, Oshawa, and Windsor are going to be some of the hardest hit communities.

The Acting Premier can talk all he wants about an auto strategy and about helping manufacturers but actions will always speak louder than words and we haven’t seen any action.”Gates says workers in Niagara Falls and other communities across Ontario will be hard-hit by cuts to jobs in the manufacturing and auto sectors as a result of the TPP trade agreement.

•  Video  https://db.tt/bAfm6gvJ 
• Audio https://db.tt/mDGx2YBr

Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.

(NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)