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Canada is one of the world’s biggest producers of automobile yet it is the only country among the 7 most industrialized nations (G7) not to have its own national car. The Germans have Mercedes Benz, VW, BMW etc. The French have Peugeot, Renault etc. The British used to have Rolls Royce, Jaguar etc. The Italians have Fiat, Ferrari etc. And the Japanese have the Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda etc. The American’s have GM. Ford and Chrysler. Even non-G7 countries like Sweden, South Korea, China, and India have their own national cars.

So I have been thinking and asking myself, if all these countries have national cars of their own why not Canada?  As noted above, while Canada is a leading automobile producer, the names General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are more synonymous with America than with Canada even though Canada produces the a lot of them.

There is no doubt, the current global economic meltdown has severely expose Canada. This has not just put Canada’s long term economic viability and job security in jeopardy, especially, manufacturing jobs and the economy of Ontario, (its economic powerhouse); it has severely hurt its pride and sovereignty and of course its national interest. The panic and anxiety that preceded rumours that the big 3; GM, Ford and Chrysler may pack and leave Canada if their bailout request were not granted also shows Canada’s fragility and how it cannot always depend on the big 3 in particular and the United States in general.  

Even though I am not a Canadian, I was deeply hurt the fact that the Canadian government was forced to wait till the American government had taken action on the bailout of the big three before taking action on its own. Lets assume the American government had turned down the bailout request due to political expediency or shenanigans, does it mean the Canadian government would also have turned down similar request even if it meant hurting the Canadian economy and its national interest?

Even more troubling and ominous future for Canada reliance on its southern neighbour is the fact that, some southern politicians in the States cynically attempted to protect their respective states and constituents at the expense of the Midwestern industrial states where the big 3 are largely located. So the question is, if the politicians there can be so cynical against certain regions within their country, why wouldn’t they do something worse to Canada if it happens that saving and protecting their interest far outweigh saving Canadian jobs?

So amid all the troubles Chrysler has had over the past several years, the anxiety and clear possibility and fears that the big three might pack and leave Canada someday which would be very devastating to the Canadian economy, and the fact that Canada doesn’t have a national car of its own; I have been asking myself, why can’t Canada buy Chrysler (a hostile take over if necessary) and make it an all Canadian automaker? I know Magna International was interested in buying Chrysler from Daimler Benz a couple of years ago. So why can’t the Canadian government help Magna acquire Chrysler or make its purchase part of its stimulus plan?

Clearly, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the enormous advantages such an initiative will bring to Canada and its manufacturing industry; job security, self reliance, economic development and off course pride. Now here are some tips for making such a purchase profitable and globally competitive.

1. The government would make it mandatory that 70-80% of all municipal, provincial and federal government cars and trucks are purchased from the national car.
2. Good deals for civil servants and bureaucrats who purchase the national car.
3. Tax relieve and other incentives for Canadians and companies who purchase the national car.
4. Government would appoint a car Czar who will over see among other things the production of fuel efficient and smart cars or trucks of the future.
5. The company is given upfront money in the form of “launch aid” similar to the one Air Bus gets from its sponsor governments.              

               Click here to continue "Time for Canada to have its own national car"

                Click  here to read "President -Elect Obama must be careful

             Mohammed Ali is Author of: (Think only whites are racist?)                

          

            SEE BELOW RESPONSE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

Dear Mr. Ali:

On behalf of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail.

Thank you for writing to the Prime Minister. You may be assured that your comments have been carefully reviewed and are appreciated.

For information on the Government's initiatives, you may wish to visit the Prime Minister's Web site, at www.pm.gc.ca.

M. Bourque
Executive Correspondence Officer                                         
for the Prime Minister's Office
Agent de correspondance de la haute direction
pour le Cabinet du Premier ministre

>>>   From : Mohammed Ali  aliking@rogers.com      Received : 20  Jan  2009 08:37:39 PM   >>>

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