Province, Feds to pledge millions to Toyota at pre-election event

The federal government asked the province to move up a multi-million dollar funding announcement for Toyota to Friday, days before an expected federal election call.

Sources have told CBC News that the Conservative government requested that the event at Toyota's Cambridge, Ont. manufacturing facility, originally planned for Friday, Aug. 7,be moved to tomorrow morning.

The same sources say the province willprovide Toyota with a grant worth $42.1 million, while the federal government will pledge a loan worth $58 million.Toyota itself is investing $421 million into its operations.

It's believedthe moneywill be put toward creating 25 new highly-skilled jobs and protecting 8,000 other jobs.

Toyotarecently announcedits Cambridge plant would switch from manufacturing the popular Corolla sedan to mid-sized vehicles and higher-value vehicles.

Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency, will represent the federal government, while Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid and localMPP Kathryn McGarry will represent the province.

CBC News reported Wednesdaythat Prime Minister Stephen Harper could visit the governor general as early as Sunday to ask him to dissolve parliament.

The Toyotaannouncement is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET Friday.