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The federal government approved a $9-billion bailout to General Motors and Chrysler during the global economic downturn without final restructuring plans and only limited analysis on how the companies would repay the loans, says Canada’s auditor general.

Years after the auto bailout, Canadian taxpayers remain on the hook for billions of dollars that have been written off as “lost.”

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In a report released Tuesday, Michael Ferguson found that Industry Canada does not know to what extent the billions of dollars in loans to GM Canada and Chrysler Canada contributed to the viability of the companies.

The federal spending watchdog also found there was no comprehensive reporting to Parliament of the federal government’s $9.1 billion in loans to GM and Chrysler, making it “impossible” for the auditor general to get a complete picture of the federal financial assistance provided.

Industry Canada was the lead government department on the file, responsible for reviewing GM’s and Chrysler’s restructuring plans and negotiating federal financial aid to the companies.