CAW Boss Buzz Hargrove: $350m Ain't Enough
CAW big kahuna Buzz Hargrove is back in the news, but his target isn't the one you'd expect. Taking a break from shooting arrows across the Ambassador Bridge into Detroit, Buzz has rejected the $1b manufacturing subsidy announced by Canada's government. Globeinvestor.com reports the the feds are offering the aid to help a manufacturing sector reeling in the wake of the Canadian dollar's stratospheric ascent. BUT the aid package limits Ontario's portion to "only" $350m, as The Gov't also intends to help other ailing industries such as forestry and pulp & paper. And Buzz ain't happy with his slice of the potential pie. "They have to recognize these are extraordinary times and require extraordinary measures," declares Mr. Hargrove. "There are many states in the United States that are willing to do almost anything to get a new engine plant. If we don't get out ahead of the pack, we could very well lose an opportunity." The saddest part in all of this, though, is that Buzz is right. Split amongst The Big 3, which have combined debts in the hundreds of billions, a scant $350m subsidy ain't gonna cut it.
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That's my money that buzz is turning up his nose at. As for extraordinary times, I'm inclined to remember my own spells of difficult times, funny, but i don't remember the CAW helping me out. No, as a matter of fact, I don't want my money going to keep overpaid morons in the comfort they've become accustomed to.
Hargrove has made it clear the CAW is unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to save their own jobs. The government should not make up the shortfall with money confiscated from taxpayers, many earning less than CAW members.
If the aid package's purpose is to aid manufacturers located in Canada adversely affected by the high Canadian dollar, then Toyota or any other car mnufacturer producing cars in Canada should be elligble for this subsidy. Toyota should lobby for this. Toyota is as Canadian as GM. They are both non Canadian companies employing Canadians in manufacturing.
Canada has spent too much on subsidies over the decades and the track record isn't good. They are wasting every penny.