Of Course! The trade agreement Canada has with the U.S. which I am sure goes along with Toyota is that if you want to sell your cars here, you got to build them here!
Interestingly enough, the article never mentions one word about the CAW (Canadian Auto Workers Union) which WILL get their slimy fingers into the pot!
While I have no info to dispute the article's claim about more intelligent workers, I can offer information relevant to the work ethic of Canadians based on the experiences of one of our stamping plants in Kitchener Ontario.
That plant has horrendous union problems, horrendous absentee problems and is faced with the possibility of being either sold or shut down.
Workers there are making top dollar for that geographic location and have no incentive whatsoever to put in a full 40 hour work week let alone expect them to work weekends. As a result of the chronic absenteeism and lack of employees willing to work the necessary weekends in order to meet production standards, they actually have a staff of part time people who they call to work the necessary jobs on the weekends.
Believe me, if Toyota is getting into Canada minus the auto union, you can bet your paycheck that the CAW is going to drop down like a 500 Lb. monkey on their back in the not too distant future.
Budd Automotive?
...if Toyota is getting into Canada minus the auto union you can bet your paycheck that the CAW is going to drop down like a 500 Lb. monkey on their back in the not too distant future.
Toyota already operates a plant in Cambridge,Ont about 30 miles east of Woodstock.
Dec.12, 1986 Toyota announces it will build a plant in Cambridge, ON
Nov. 30, 1988 First car rolls off the line (Still on display in the Visitor Centre!)
Aug.13, 1992 Test Track Opens
Jan.13, 1998 Visitor Centre Opens
Sept. 22, 1999 TMMC manufactures its one-millionth vehicle
They have tried and failed to 'organize' Toyota's workers.
CAW Targets Toyota Employees (3/13/2005)
Toyota resists union effort April 8, 2005