Auto auto Auto workers

[bucket]

When farmers can't make a go of it, they are told to become more efficient, diversify, grow different crops etc etc.

When the auto sector has a hiccup due to poor government contracts with auto companies or producing a product no one wants, out come the handouts of cash and excuses to justify additional spending for the auto sector. Top news story. No media ever questions the political incompetence of this handout to Stellantis or GM.


Sadly we have no farm group that notices so farmers are expected to absorb losses for the entire economy.

idiotic.

[fjlip]

Been same as long as I've been here. Nothing changes, those in power make $$.

[SmallTimeOperator]

Been a rough week in the auto sector. Stelantis, GM (EV cube vans) and now Paccar (Kenworth/Peterbilt).

The auto companies are not to blame and are playing it smart, moving production back to US because otherwise the tariffs will wreck profits. If I was in charge at those companies, I would do the same thing. And no amount of free money would change my mind. Unless I suppose if the governments want to pick up the cost of the tariffs on every vehicle, forever, maybe then we talk. But what government would be that stupid. So they move. They adapt to the changing times.

Funniest thing though, is that in the case of the GM electric cube vans, they can’t sell them. Nobody wants them. Anywhere.

Paccar still going to build Canadian orders in Canada. That is nice of them.

But for the most part, I would say the Canadian auto industry is done. More job losses on the way,

[Rareearth]

Small time,
What are your thoughts on lumber and supply management?

[SmallTimeOperator]

Small time,
What are your thoughts on lumber and supply management?

I think the softwood lumber industry will be in decline in Canada for a long time. The industry will build itself out within the American borders to avoid the American tariffs, just like auto is doing right now. And Canadian lumber companies will probably be investing in US operations. America doesn’t care where the investment capital comes from, they just want the jobs to be filled with American people. Any Canadians who want to stay employed in the lumber industry would be smart to consider a move to the USA and work the same job.

Auto workers too. Try to get a job in the USA.

Supply Management is tricky. It will stay as long as it is providing votes and electing MPs who know they were elected because of Supply Management. It was a bargaining chip, that is now worthless, because the auto industry is toast, softwood lumber is never coming back to what it was, and steel and aluminum aren’t worth losing the votes for. And since it is now enshrined in law that it will not be on the table with negotiations with the USA, Supply Management will stay as it is until a majority government in Ottawa feels there is more advantage to get rid of it than keep it. The Conservatives would be smart to take a page out of the Liberal playbook, change their policy to keep Supply Management, like the Liberals did with the Carbon Tax, and go after the Quebec vote with a plan to keep it.