by SCOTT PATERSON, GUEST COLUMNIST The Toronto Sun, Tuesday, August 18, 2009: ===============================
When you get into your BMW or Hyundai, take a moment to look around the cabin. Consider the innovation and craftsmanship and think about the brilliant German or Korean minds that created these modern marvels.
Now ask yourself: Why aren't there brilliant Canadian minds engaged in similar work here in Canada? Is it simply because we don't have any brilliant minds?
The real answer is so unflattering to us as a people and a country that it reveals a terrible deficit in our psyche, a nationalistic creative malaise, a country that has defaulted on the mortgage our forefathers took out on this country. It reveals a people who have surrendered to the American industrial colossus.
It is as if we have said, "America's dreams have become our dreams too, and that is good enough."
And so Canada does not make cars, it assembles cars, mainly America's cars. Is this why we built this country, to work in American-owned factories?
Ten of the 20 largest companies in the world are car makers or refine petroleum for cars. Very simply, countries that control the auto sector, control the shape and direction of the world's industry. But instead of embracing it we have settled for a back-seat role while America drives.
We desperately need our own sector and we need to develop it immediately, before China and India arrive here with their offerings.
Our own indigenous auto sector will spread technology throughout our entire economy and regions. It will build a culture of engineering and innovation and seed smaller companies, but most importantly inspire young people to stay in this country.
Recent events in the auto sector have revealed that not having our own sector completely exposes us to foreign boardrooms. When America demanded $10 billion to keep their factories open here, we did what every child would do in the school yard, we handed over the lunch money.
But every child and country must eventually grow up and it is this latest forced re-investment in America that has given rise to a question that logically presents itself: Is it time for Canada to enter the world marketplace as an indigenous automobile manufacturer?
The DriveNorth conference in Ottawa on Aug. 19 will bring together private and public sector experts to discuss just that -- the possibility of Canada entering the auto sector as a real manufacturer and not merely as an assembler.
With Magna's likely acquisition of Opel, many Canadians may feel Canada is back in. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It will remain a pan-European enterprise with some Canadian investment.
But how could a small Nordic country like Canada with a tiny population produce cars to compete against the world? It has already happened -- in Sweden, with a population one-third of Canada. It also makes world-class trucks and buses.
The DriveNorth Conference is going to be a beginning. When it is completed a report to Canadian politicians will be delivered to be used as a blueprint on how a renaissance might take place in Canadian industry.
We ask all Canadians to take note of this event and look for the results. For in them, we believe will lie the seeds of a new approach for Canada.
Can Canada do it? How ironic it seems that we must borrow from an American who has proclaimed with great affect, "Yes we can!"
Perhaps it is more fitting that we alter it slightly ..."Yes we must."
The very existence of this website (Canadian Poncho) demonstrates a certain level of pride in "Canadian" cars, even though the only Canadian aspect was the peculiar mix of General Motors parts that ended up being called Canadian Pontiacs.
Maybe we should band together and design, build and market a brand of cars called Canadian Poncho. I doubt GM owns the rights to that name.
Could work , if we could get the workers to accept lower $$$ per hour to do the work, we are too used to big paychecks, and therefore higher auto costs, but then how many handouts would we need to get it rolling, we have the technology but not the drive to get there.
A 100% Canadian car with style and performance to be wanted within, and outside of our borders, that would be amazing. I think it could be one that is obviously 4 door, but also 2 door versions, just like they used to. Not an SUV, possibly a station wagon line instead.
The DriveNorth conference in Ottawa on Aug. 19 will bring together private and public sector experts to discuss just that -- the possibility of Canada entering the auto sector as a real manufacturer and not merely as an assembler.
