The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) on Friday pleaded Ottawa to help the industry out of difficulty while warning a crisis will affect national economy severely.
CADA President and CEO Richard Gauthier, representing the country's 3,500 car dealers, told reporters on Parliament Hill Friday that an aggressive federal policy is desperately needed.
"The Canadian public and policymakers need to understand that the auto industry is really the engine of the entire country's economy and not just a single province," Gauthier said.
"As the largest contributor to Canada's manufacturing Gross Domestic Product and responsible for one in seven jobs nationwide, the auto industry is crucial for our economic structure."
He urged Ottawa to consider measures to increase liquidity in the automotive sector.
"The cold reality facing decision makers today is that if Canadian-based manufacturers are not provided a bridge across the current economic crisis, then Canada's 3,500 small business dealers, located in every community in the country, will bear the brunt of the downturn," he said.
Meanwhile, mayors from across Ontario, where most of Canada's auto industry is based, are gathering in Toronto Friday to discuss ways to deal with the ailing auto industry.
Canadian officials are also in Washington to discuss with U.S. officials how to deal with the crisis.
Source:Xinhua
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