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About CAPC Canadian Automotive Partnership Council: The History of its Inception Recognizing the importance of the automotive industry to the Canadian economy, the Minister of Industry launched a three-step consultative process in 2001. Through stakeholder cooperation and collaboration, the goal of this process was to ensure future investment, innovation, and production by the industry. The first step in the process was undertaken from January to May 2002, when Industry Canada undertook to consult 15 key stakeholders to identify short-term and long-term competitive issues facing the industry. Some of the issues identified included investment attraction, trade policy, innovation, skilled workforce, harmonization of regulations, e-business, and border infrastructure. In addition to the identification of these issues, the stakeholders supported the government's suggestion of holding a forum to enhance industry-government collaboration in order to address issues of common concern. On June 26, 2002, the Minister of Industry, Allan Rock, convened the National Forum on Automotive Innovation and Investment. This second step in the process brought together over 150 representatives from vehicle assemblers, parts companies, industry associations, analysts, academics, labour unions, and government institutions to identify critical industry concerns. The Forum led to the identification of five main areas that need to be addressed as part of any recommendations or solutions: fiscal/investment policy, innovation, trade infrastructure, human resources, and regulatory harmonization. In his opening remarks at the Forum, Minister Rock proposed the creation of an industry-led consultative body that would bring together industry, labour, academia, and government leaders in an effort to find solutions to the competitive issues facing the industry. Following meetings with key industry leaders during the course of the Forum, Minister Rock announced agreement amongst the stakeholders for the creation of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC). The formation of this Council brought Industry Canada to the third and final step in its consultative process. The CAPC was tasked with a mandate to identify and prioritize key issues in relation to the competitiveness of the industry, actions needed to strengthen the industry in the short and long-term, and opportunities for future innovation and investment in the industry. The CAPC held its inaugural meeting on September 4, 2002 and fully adopted the mandate of the Council. Michael Grimaldi, President of General Motors of Canada, was unanimously voted Co-Chair with previously appointed Co-Chair Don Walker, President and CEO of Intier Automotive, to head the Council. At its first meeting, the Council initiated the formation of five Working Groups to address each of the five areas identified at the Forum and a sixth Working Group to address Kyoto implementation. The CAPC membership, comprised of the CEOs of Canada's five assemblers, CEOs of Canada's four leading parts suppliers, heads of industry associations, President of the Canadian Automotive and Aerospace Workers Union, President of the University of Windsor, and provincial and federal Ministers of Industry, will address on a continuous basis the key competitive issues facing the automotive industry in Canada. |
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