Now that we all own a failed automaker, we must make better decisions looking forward. Trying to push more cars into an over-saturated market will only compound GMs woes and make life harder for the other automakers. Instead, we need to begin transforming our transportation and manufacturing to something suited for a greener 21st century. The Green Party proposes a 5-point plan for best use of this new public asset.

1. Phase out all standard auto manufacture; shift current auto production to cutting edge technology for the cars of the future.
2. Create a government tender for all future fleet purchases to be electric, hybrid or alternate fuels to create guaranteed market demand.
3. Re-tool idle plants for production of high-efficiency, hybrid or electric buses for growing public transit systems.
4. Re-start TrentonWorks under GM ownership to build electric and high-speed rail cars and stimulate the Canadian steel industry with new rail lines.
5. Re-assign idle auto plants for manufacture of solar panels and wind turbine generators to meet growing domestic and world demand.

Government fleets can jump-start demand for domestic hybrid and electric vehicles, which have a bright future in the global market. The new owners of Opel (GM Europe), Magna Corp., have announced they want to build and sell an electric car in Canada, so there is already private-sector interest in this direction.

The renewed interest (and funding) for high speed rail in the United States indicates a market for rolling stock which Canadians have already shown an ability to build. Smart Canadian governments will follow the American example and create high-speed rail in Canada, meaning more production jobs right here.

“CAW workers already staff VIA trains, so they can close the circle on jobs in rail, while stimulating the Canadian steel industry, by building the rails as well,” Elizabeth May noted. “Furthermore, support for sustainable technologies has already created 300,000 jobs in Germany, more than we face losing in the Canadian auto industry.”

In general, we should turn away from trying to re-start a stalled business model selling American cars people don’t want, and instead aim ourselves at meeting growing demand for cleaner, greener technology like wind, solar, and rail. The growing North American market for greener transportation can offset the weakness in the car market, which contributed to GMs fall, and protect the value of our reluctant investment.

Press Release, 21-May-2009