The push for a national auto strategy is going to be one of Windsor West MP Brian Masse's top priorities in 2017.
The federal NDP representative credits Unifor for signing a new contract with Fiat-Chrysler this year that wasn't focused on wages and benefits, but rather ensuring that the automaker would continue to see its products developed in Windsor.
Masse says it's now up to the federal and provincial governments to come together and make sure that FCA's original $1.3-billion investment is enhanced.
"The industry wants a national strategy, the Unifor union of [auto] workers wants to have a national strategy, and a lot of other countries have that as a strategy," he explains.
The MP says it's been a decade since a new auto manufacturing plant was built in Canada. In that time, the country has slipped from the world's second largest auto manufacturer to tenth.
"South Korea, even the United States and Mexico have introduction models that include procuring [auto manufacturing] plants and investments," says Masse.
If Canada doesn't come up with some sort of collaborative auto strategy, Masse says it risks falling further behind.