The Trudeau Liberals are being accused of abandoning the Canadian auto industry.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse said the $5,000 rebate for electric or hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles announced in Tuesday's budget does nothing for the Windsor-built Chrysler Pacifica. He said the federal budget is subsidizing foreign-built vehicles.
"I was shocked and appalled in the 2019 Liberal federal budget that provides subsidies to purchase vehicles built in other countries," Masse said in a news release Wednesday night.
Masse said the budget has no new money for investment in the auto sector or the supply chain to take advantage of new opportunities in Detroit and establishes another corporate tax giveaway that does nothing to strengthen Canadian producers or support autoworkers.
He said the incentive only applies to vehicles priced below $45,000 and the only Canadian built vehicle that could be considered, is the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid, which has a list price of $51,000. Masse added all the other vehicles available in the market are foreign built.
Masse wrote the Minister of Innovation requesting a working group to ensure Ontario-based suppliers can take advantage of Fiat Chrysler Automobile's recently announced $6.5 billion investment in five facilities in the Detroit area to build and assemble new SUV and truck models.
"This is a once in a generation opportunity," he said.