Jim Flaherty comes out swinging

OSHAWA -- The decisions by General Motors to shut down the Oshawa truck plant in 2009 has erupted into a political cross-fire.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is under heat for comments he made in February when he blamed Ontario's economic difficulties on the Liberal government's high businesses taxes. Although the minister's press secretary claims the statement has been taken out of context, many of the opposing parties have come forward demanding an explanation.

Speaking to the crowd at the blockade Thursday morning, Federal finance critic John McCallum called Mr. Flaherty's comments "irresponsible" and said discouraging investors to rely on Ontario directly influenced GM's decision to close the plant. Mr. McCallum also reiterated Liberal leader Stéphane Dion's call Wednesday that the finance minister should step down from his position.

In a far cry from Wednesday's appearance of Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton, which garnered a warm welcome from protesters, Mr. McCallum faced angry questioning. In response, he said he doesn't agree with the current government's laissez-faire approach to protecting manufacturing jobs and said his party supports adequate retraining for laid-off employees.

Later on Thursday in Ottawa, Mr. McCallum criticized Mr. Flaherty for not attending the Oshawa protest, despite the evident disappointment of people in his own riding and said they were "shocked he was not there." He went on to express disapproval for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's reference to the plant closing as a one-time event, instead calling it a "serial killer of manufacturing jobs."

Mr. Flaherty responded by calling Mr. McCallum's visit to the GM headquarters condescending to the people of Oshawa and highlighted the Liberal opposition's proposal for a "huge new tax on gasoline" that he said won't help the auto sector.

Mr. Flaherty said the federal government plans to work with General Motors and union workers to put money from the Automotive Innovation Fund towards technologically innovative ways to improve the auto sector in Canada.

During question period in Ottawa Wednesday, Mr. Flaherty assured Canadians there are still good paying jobs available in the country and attacked the Liberals for casting Canada's economy in a bad light. "The opposition seems to take pleasure out of the fact that in manufacturing, particularly in the auto sector, we're having a significant downturn and a significant restructuring."