For Immediate Release
May 21, 2009

Three weeks later – still no plan

Government fiddles as GM dealerships shut doors

Queen’s Park – Less than a month after Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett asked what the Ontario government is doing to keep car dealerships open in Ontario, General Motors’ closure announcements have revealed the answer – nothing!

Further details on GM’s dealership closure and consolidation plans have highlighted the concerns Barrett rose in the house at the end of April.

“I’ve written the Minister of Finance twice, with regard to the benefits of a tax holiday with respect to vehicle sales,” Barrett said. “Government continues to ignore the warnings, and we see the results of McGuinty inaction. GM has told two in every five dealers they will be ending their relationship by October 2010.”

Many of the dealers will close this year, in a retail pullback affecting as many as 10,000 jobs.

“My call for an auto sales-tax holiday was one of two plans the Opposition has presented to stimulate the auto economy – both have fallen on deaf ears,” stated Barrett. “Our proposal for a ‘Retire-Your-Ride’ program offering drivers $2,000 towards a new car after turning in their vehicle of ten years old or older was given the same short shrift - yet government continues to do nothing as the closures and job losses build.”

When Barrett asked the Economic Development Minister for his plan last month, the best Michael Bryant could respond with was, “These are the kind of significant changes to the company that were deemed by the company to be necessary.”

“Given the ongoing belt-tightening that is directly impacting the lives – and way of life - of Ontario families, that simply isn’t good enough,” Barrett concludes.

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