By: Sally Yip

The Industry Jobs and the Local EconomyOAIS & “A Call for Action: A Canadian Auto

Strategy,” GTA AUTO CLUSTER: Auto 21

AUTO21 Conference 2008 A.P.M.A. Annual Conference & Exhibit:

Developing 2020 Vision

Strategic Skills Programs in GTA

The Greater Toronto Area is the second largest automotive cluster in North America & is accounts for 58% in Ontario.

Three major auto manufacturers – General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler –operate 6 assembly plants in the GTA.

More than 700 parts manufacturers help make the GTA one of the most vital and diverse automotive clusters on the continent.

Ontario is the most important vehicle-producing jurisdiction in North America, with 2.4 million vehicles in the GTA Area in 2006.

Produce the highest vehicles quantity than any other region or State

The auto industry directly employs 63,400 people in the GTA.

Auto workers’ paycheques is accounted for $3.3 billion into the GTA economy in 2004 (or $9.1 million a day).

Thousands more jobs are created to supply the industry: jobs in steel, plastics and other manufacturing and services. Which stimulate an estimated 89,000 jobs

throughout the economy

In 2004, the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC) released, “A Call for Action: A Canadian Auto Strategy,”

Ontario Government launched the Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy (OAIS), a new five-year, $500 million program designed to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness.

These strategic initiatives will support private sector investment with:

Advanced skills training to keep pace with new technology and processes.

Innovation through consumer credits and commercialization tax credits.

Over $1 billion for leading-edge investment in automotive engineering and manufacturing facilities.

$300 million to improve border-crossing infrastructure and regulatory

New environmental technologies and energy efficiencies.

A national research initiative supported by the Canadian government Centre of Excellence, focuses on research for improving competitiveness in the automotive sector

The Network currently supports over 265 top researchers working at 42 academic institutions, government research facilities and private sector research labs across Canada.

http://www.auto21.ca/home_e.html

AUTO21 2008 Conference An merging conference among the Network's

annual Scientific and HQP This three-day event will include:

a Gala Banquet to celebrate the Network's achievements

panels that explore industry and global automotive perspectives

high-profile keynote speakers

Canada's largest automotive event; which includes: AUTO21 “Innovation Showcase”, OCE

“Commercialization Zone” and the IBM Internet “Collaboration Zone”on Exhibit floor Booths of key industry manufacturers and industry

suppliers Opportunities to meet international delegates

from key automotive focused countries Opportunity to network with Canada’s leading

researchers Numerous networking opportunitieshttp://www.apma.ca/client/apma/apma.nsf/object/2008+Brochure/$file/2008+APMA+Conference+Brochure.pdf

Advanced Manufacturing & Design Technologies Centres for Brampton and Regional Manufacturers (Brampton) Project lead: Sheridan College

Centre for Engineering Design and Rapid Manufacturing (Toronto) Project lead: Centennial College.

Integrated Manufacturing Centre (Oshawa) Project lead: Durham College & University of

Ontario Institute of Technology

Strategic Training in Nanotechnology, Fuel Cells and Smart Structures (Kingston, Toronto, Niagara Falls) Project leads: Queen’s University and Niagara

College.