General Motors closes Oshawa plant and politicians scramble to react

Unifor president Jerry Dias says General Motors' plan to close its car plant in Oshawa, Ontario puts it on the brink of leaving Canada completely. The head of Canada's biggest private-sector union represents about 2,500 workers at the factory the carmaker plans to shut at the end of 2019.

After meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dias said GM has moved production of five models of vehicles to Mexico and the United States in the past few years, and if the Oshawa plant closes, the company will have only one left here. Dias argues that if General Motors stops making cars in Canada, it would devastate the parts industry and that would cause big trouble for other car companies.

Guest: Bill Tieleman - President of West Star Communications, Political commentator

Guest: Alise Mills - Senior associate at Sussex Strategy Group

Unifor president Jerry Dias says General Motors' plan to close its car plant in Oshawa, Ontario puts it on the brink of leaving Canada completely. The head of Canada's biggest private-sector union represents about 2,500 workers at the factory the carmaker plans to shut at the end of 2019.

After meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dias said GM has moved production of five models of vehicles to Mexico and the United States in the past few years, and if the Oshawa plant closes, the company will have only one left here. Dias argues that if General Motors stops making cars in Canada, it would devastate the parts industry and that would cause big trouble for other car companies.

Guest: Bill Tieleman - President of West Star Communications, Political commentator

Guest: Alise Mills - Senior associate at Sussex Strategy Group