Ontario Auto Mayors look to 'strengthen national policies,' hold roundtable

Auto mayors from across Ontario are meeting in Oakville today.

The Ontario Auto Mayors, which includes the top magistrates from 20 municipalities, are holding what the Oakville Chamber of Commerce calls "an industry stakeholder and auto mayor roundtable."

• GM Oshawa workers worry more layoffs could lead to plant closure
• Retooling begins at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant

In a media release issued earlier this month, the Ontario Auto Mayors said they are concerned with General Motors of Canada's announcement to cut 1,000 jobs at the Oshawa assembly plant as result of a production shift of the Chevrolet Camaro.

Production of the Camaro in Oshawa will stop in November 2015 and start in Michigan, U.S.

"Canada has now lost out on several investment renewal opportunities in the automotive manufacturing sector," Oakville mayor and chair of the Ontario Auto Mayors Rob Burton said in the release. "These losses confirm the immediate need to strengthen our national policies to keep automotive investment in Canada."

According to a tweet from Burton Friday morning from the meeting, the mayors will meet with representatives from business and labour and academics.

He said the mayors looking to grow the industry because each auto job is linked indirectly to 79 more.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is also at the meeting.

Dilkens' tweet was directed at Teresa Piruzza, director of external affairs for Chrysler Canada.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is currently retooling its Windsor Assembly Plant, which builds Chrysler minivans, at the cost of $2 billion.

"We need all levels of government functioning seamlessly," Dilkens said Thursday before leaving for Oakville. "We need to work more collaboratively together."