Canada could lose 582,000 jobs

OTTAWA, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Canada could lose 582,000 jobs within five years if U.S. automakers shut down operations, the Ontario Manufacturing Council says.

The advisory panel of industry and labor representatives said if the Big Three automakers fail, it could be a tough road ahead for Canada's economy, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

Canada would lose about 323,000 jobs if production ceased immediately, and that figure would climb in five years to 582,000 jobs nationally by 2014.

The report by the Center for Spatial Economics found that if General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler cut production in half it would mean that 157,400 jobs would be lost nationally almost immediately. By 2014, 296,000 jobs would be lost.

The report also said if the Big Three collapse it would mean an 80 percent cut in production by the Canadian automotive parts industry.

"The fact is that if this industry goes, it is going to involve a lot of people," said Rob Wildeboer, a council member and the executive chairman of Martinrea International Inc. "A lot of people that are going to be your neighbors, they're going to be friends, probably family members."