Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty visits with the editorial board of The Globe and Mail in Toronto on Sept. 29, 2011.Peter Power / The Globe and Mail/The Globe and Mail
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak wouldn't stand up for Ontario's auto sector if it took another hit, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said Friday.
Mr. McGuinty, who is campaigning to be Ontario's premier for a third time, is focusing on the economy in the last week before the vote on Oct. 6.
On Friday he toured the Chrysler Brampton Assembly plant, to which the provincial government gave advances of $961-million between 2008 and 2009.
Mr. McGuinty said his opposition was opposed to investing in the auto sector; Chrysler and General Motors received a total of $4.8-billion in loans and financing.
"Just as Tim Hudak did nothing in the past to stand up for the auto sector, if we were called upon to do so in the future, he would not stand up for the auto sector," Mr. McGuinty said.
The Liberal leader toured the Chrysler plant, which employs 3,500 workers. The company paid back their loans ahead of schedule in May.
"There was a very important public debate that unfolded and there were many, including the PC opposition, who said just let the economic forces play themselves out," Mr. McGuinty said.
He said instead, he called Prime Minister Stephen Harper and said something needed to be done.
"Today, the sector has turned around. We're once again the No. 1 producer of cars in North America," Mr. McGuinty said. "This is due in part to what we did as a Liberal government."