Canadians oppose auto assistance

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Just as the Canadian government announced it would follow the example of the United States by making emergency loans to its automobile facilities, a new poll reveals that the majority of Canadians are opposed to the bailout.   Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Saturday that a $3 billion loan would be provided for General Motors of Canada and $1 billion for Chrysler Canada as a "regrettable but necessary step to protect the Canadian economy."   The poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Canwest News Service and Global National, however, surveyed 1,021 adults from December 18-21, and found that 58 percent of adults are against the aid package.   The strongest support, not surprisingly, was in Ontario, where the Canadian subsidiaries of the Detroit automakers are located, but even there only 52 percent of Ontarians polled chose the option that ÔÇ£the auto industry is an integral part of the Canadian economy and the government should be providing assistance to keep the companies from going under."   Alberta led the dissenters, with 69 percent opposing aid for the automakers, followed by Atlantic Canada at 66 percent, Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 65 percent, Quebec at 63percent and British Columbia at 62 percent.   "I think there is a line of thought for a majority of Canadians that the car industry should change its ways and they don't want to throw good money after bad," said John Wright, senior vice-president of Ipsos Reid.   Under the terms of the package, Ottawa will provide $2.7 billion and Ontario $1.3 billion in three installments, with the first payments going out December 29. The financing consists of 91-day renewable loans, up to a maximum of three years, with a condition that they will not be renewed unless GM and Chrysler submit restructuring plans to ensure their long-term viability.   The poll did not use the controversial word "bailout" when asking Canadians for their views, describing the package instead as "assistance."   *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *