Harper holds roundtable with auto parts industry in Windsor

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with members of the auto parts industry in Windsor, Ont.,Wednesdayevening at a roundtable discussion.

Harper was joined by Public Works Minister DianeFinleyandEssexMP Jeff Watson at the the Waterfront Hotel in the southwestern Ontario city.

Harper described the auto industry as "a very important industry, not just for this region but for this country."

"As you know, we've been doing much over the past few years to try and work and develop the industry," he said.

"Obviously, the biggest single action of the things we had to do to during the great global crash [was]to save abigchunkof the industry in this country."

The 2015 budget announced earlier this year provides manufacturers a 10-year tax incentive to boost productivity-enhancing investment.

It also provides up to $100million over fiveyears, starting in 201516, to support product development and technology demonstration by Canadian automotive parts suppliers through the new Automotive Supplier InnovationProgram.

'A very good meeting'

"The people we met today are major players in the auto sector, particularly in the auto sectorand their thoughts matter to us," saidJeff Watson.

"This is information that goes directly to the prime minister because he hears it and of course that informs his overallunderstanding. It applies to our policies, our budgets in the future," he said.

FlavioVolpe, the present of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, was part of the roundtable with Harper. He called it "a very good meeting."

The prime minister was greeted outside the hotel on Riverside Drive by about 200 protesters, whowere rallying againstthecontroversial new Anti-Terrorism Act, known as BillC-51.

Union representatives were also protesting,includingUniforLocal 444 presidentDinoChiodo.

"When's the last time he's been here?" questionedChiodo. "And this basically tries to strengthen the opportunity to get another conservative seat in this upcoming election. It's just disappointing."

The Prime Minister's Office released few details about hisvisit, just a day after Windsor citycouncillorJo-AnneGignacreceived the Conservative nomination forWindsor-Tecumsehin the upcoming federalelection.

Gignac had an opportunity to meet with Harper Wednesday.

"He gave a very strong message ...in terms of going into the election," she said.

Askedif the prime ministercould sense momentum in the riding,Gignac replied, "definitlety."

"I'm very excited to get the campaign underway."

Wednesdaynight's meeting was a "cameras only" event, meaning members of the media were restricted from asking questions.

Harper to meet with Michigan governor

Harper's two-day visit to Windsor includes an announcement Thursday morning with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.

It is believed Harper and Snyder will announce the name of the new $1-billion bridge between Windsor and Detroit aroundnoon. CBC has not been able to confirm Harper will name the bridgeThursday.

"There's no need for him to be here, especially for naming the bridge especially when the bridge hasn't really even started construction, yet. It's going to probably take three, four, five more yearsso there was no need for that," Chiodo said.

"I don't care what they name it. Let's just get the bridge up,"Gignacsaid.

Harper's visit to Windsor also comes less than a week after the federal governmentannounced it will spend about$6 million rehabilitating the exterior facade of the Paul Martin Buildingin the Windsor'sdowntown.

The downtown building was originally built in 1934. In 1994, it was renamed in honour of Paul Martin Sr, a WindsorMember of Parliament for 33 years.

Paul Martin Jr., the21stPrime Minister of Canada, is the son of the man for whom that downtown building was named.