James Moore says more auto investment coming to Canada

Industry Minister James Moore says the auto sector is essential to Canada's economy and that he is confident more investment from the industry is coming to the country.

Moore met with automotive industry leaders, including the CEOs from Ford, Honda and Toyota, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Tuesday.

"We do have ongoing conversations with [Fiat Chrysler] and with Ford about future investment opportunities," Moore said in a one-on-one interview with CBC News.

Ontario and the federal government recently announced over $100million in funding toLinamar, an auto parts plant in Guelph, Ont.

That was followed by FiatChrysler confirming it was investing $2 billion US in its Windsor, Ont. plant.

"I'm very positive and very confident that we'll have more good news to announce in the future," Moore said.

National auto strategy

Unifor and auto experts have been critical of the federal and provincial governments for not doing more for the auto sector and have called for a national auto strategy.

The calls came following a decision by Ford Motor Co. to build a new engine plant in Mexico after it was unable to reach a deal with the federal and Ontario governments to bring the investment to Windsor.

Bothgovernments said they could not come to terms with Ford on financial assistance.

"We do have an auto strategy," Moore said, pointing to the federal Automotive Innovation Fund, low corporate tax rates and tariff-free access to the U.S. and Europe.

"We are doing everything we can, working and in co-operation with the auto sector, to ensure Canada stays a world leader in the auto sector," Moore said.