| | October 9, 2004 GM Beacon project could benefit St. Catharines Proposal's implications for local plants unclear By DON FRASER
Standard Staff A plan by General Motors of Canada to spend $2 billion on a Beacon project to link new research and development with some of its Ontario operations could mean new work for the company's St. Catharines plants. The proposal ‑ revealed Wednesday by GM Canada president Michael Grimaldi ‑involves the creation of a Canadian automotive centre of excellence in Oshawa and the country's first university degree in automotive design and engineering. The centre would be based at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa and would include studies in auto education, research and development, and engineering. However, GM Canada said the initiative would also depend on an infusion of around $400 million from the provincial and federal governments, according to a published report. Those negotiations with the two levels of government are now underway, said Grimaldi. "This is a much bigger story than you'd think," said Doug Orr, the Canadia Auto Workers Local 199 unit chairman for both GM plants in St. Catharines. Orr said the Beacon project has been "near and dear to our hearts for probably the last six months." While the project's implications for the St. Catharines' engine and components plants are unclear, Orr said some signs are promising. "We've been asking local management and everyone we can think of and we've had a hard time getting any type of details," he said. Last week, Local 199 had been informed by the national CAW office that "local mayors and municipalities" would be meeting with GM and "getting a review," he said.
"We also believe there's a very small
investment to an existing product
already in St. Catharines."
DOUG ORR
CAW LOCAL 199
Orr said the union believed the project would involve new work for the plant in Oshawa and that it is contingent on government investment. "We also believe there's a very small investment to an existing product already in St. Catharines," he said. "I'm hearing it's a $23‑million investment to an existing product. "That (product) being some type of engine technology. We've also heard it will create some engineering type jobs for people in Ontario and education partnerships for universities." Orr said the union expects over the next week or two to get more information about the Beacon project and how it might affect the St. Catharines plants. CAW is preparing for contract negotiations with GM Canada in 2005. St. Catharines Mayor Tim Rigby said the GM Beacon Project would be supporting "eight manufacturing facilities in Ontario." "This will help to solidify the operations here in Ontario ... a lot of the funding, obviously, is going to Oshawa," Rigby said. "An integration of advanced flexible manufacturing systems is what they're looking at. St. Catharines modernizing for another new engine line is what they're hoping to do." Rigby said there was also a "considerable number of dollars being invested in universities and colleges one of which is Niagara College." "I have to be careful about how much I say," added Rigby, who, citing confidentiality, declined to discuss further details. Niagara College spokesman Darrell Neufeld said Friday "information on the project" and its connection to the college couldn't be provided. A GM spokesperson was unavailable Friday.
This article originally appeared in the Saturday, October 9, 2004 issue of the St. Catharines Standard. It does not appear on their site so I am reprinting it here for you to see. |
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