TECUMSEH, ONT.—The Liberals and Tories have staked out vastly different positions on how they would support Ontario’s automotive industry.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak opposes “corporate welfare” for any corporation no matter how large, while Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne says the province ignores the auto industry at its peril.

Speaking in Tecumseh Wednesday, Wynne warned that Hudak would “destroy” Ontario’s auto industry‎ by refusing to give it a helping hand.

Wynne said Hudak has already “undermined” Chrysler negotiations earlier this year between Queen’s Park and Ottawa with his “reckless comments” about corporate welfare.

“Tim Hudak would destroy the auto industry in Ontario . . . he would say to the auto sector, ‘You are on your own,’ ” Wynne told reporters after touring Omega Tool Corp.

“If the auto sector is destroyed Ontario’s economy drives into the ditch. There is no question about that because the auto sector is so critical to the people of this province and to our economy,” she said.





During a campaign stop in Cobourg Ont., Hudak said Wednesday his plan to slash corporate taxes by 30 per cent is a better way to create jobs by treating all businesses equally.

“I’m not going to give you a grant but I’m not going to give your competitor down the road a grant, either,” Hudak said as Horizon Plastics factory president Peter Garvey stood nearby.

Wynne said Hudak’s comments have already put workers at risk. “His policies are not right for the auto sector.”

Wynne added that NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is “irrelevant” when it comes to working with business.”

Earlier this year Chrysler approached the provincial and federal governments for financial assistance to the tune of $700 million but backed away after Hudak publicly called it corporate welfare.

Chrysler Group LLC issued a statement in March saying its request had become a “political football.”

‎Wynne insisted that “the auto sector is fundamental to this region but it’s fundamental to Ontario,” noting it contributes ‎$12.8 billion annually to the provincial economy.

Hudak said government handouts of cash “tends to reward the well-connected, those that hire the fancy Liberal lobbyists and others get stuck paying the bills.”

The auto sector isn’t doing as well as Wynne would have voters believe, he added at the plastics plant that received a $2 million forgivable loan in 2011, if targets are met.

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“The facts speak for themselves. We have fewer jobs in the auto sector today under Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty,” Hudak told reporters, saying corporate tax cuts are a better way of helping business.

“Chrysler has said they are going to invest in the Windsor plant . . . in the Brampton plant. That’s a testament to the skill of our workers and the taxpayers save $700 million,” he said, a reference to aid Chrysler had requested.

“Sounds like a good deal to me.”

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