A worker on the production line at Chryslers plant in Windsor, Ontario, works on one of the companys new minivans January 18, 2011 as the company celebrated the production launch of the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.Geoff Robins / The Canadian Press An Ontario government announcement June 12 outlined a series of regulatory changes that would cut red tape as part of an effort to draw new investment from automakers. Economic Development Minister Todd Smith presented the changes at the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association conference in Windsor, Ontario, reports Automotive News Canada. “We’re making it faster, easier and cheaper for companies to comply with the regulations that we do need, while at the same time removing regulations that do nothing to protect workers’ health and safety,” Smith said in a statement. “With less red tape, Ontario will see more investment. That means we need shovel-ready land to help attract the next Honda, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, GM or Ford.” An example of one of the regulations being relaxed is the dollar-value threshold for on-site construction projects that automakers must report to the province. The bar currently sits at $50,000 or higher – a value set in 1991 – but will be raised so only factory improvements worth more than $250,000 need to be reported. The auto sector in Ontario employs roughly 100,000 workers, but faces stiff competition for new investment, mostly from vehicle and parts assembly plants in Mexico and the southern U.S. that can build cars at lower
Origin: Ontario government relaxes regulations to draw automaker interest, business