Toyota to build a new plant in Canada due to high level of illiteracy in the U.S. South

Toyota to build 100,000 vehicles per year in Woodstock, Ont., starting 2008 10:27 PM EDT Jul 05

STEVE ERWIN

WOODSTOCK, Ont. (CP) - Ontario workers are well-trained.

That simple explanation was cited as a main reason why Toyota turned its back on hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies offered from several American states in favour of building a second Ontario plant.

[...]

The factory will cost $800 million to build, with the federal and provincial governments kicking in $125 million of that to help cover research, training and infrastructure costs.

Several U.S. states were reportedly prepared to offer more than double that amount of subsidy. But Fedchun said much of that extra money would have been eaten away by higher training costs than are necessary for the Woodstock project.

He said Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained - and often illiterate - workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use 'pictorials' to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.

[...]

Full article at http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/050630/b0630102.html

... and

'In addition to lower training costs, Canadian workers are also $4 to $5 cheaper to employ partly thanks to the taxpayer-funded health-care system in Canada, said federal Industry Minister David Emmerson.'

It appears taxpayer-funded health actually makes us more competitive. This is also true of other industries like call centers. Two new 1,000+ staff call centers are going up near where I live, due to the fact offering employee benefits is much cheaper in Canada than stateside.

It really is a brilliant move for Toyota.

I found a website regarding car quality of vehicles built in Canada vs. the US. We have a big advantage there as well. I will try to find the site.

I wonder if the Canada-haters at the National Citizens' Coalition, the Calgary School and in Stephen Harper's office are getting this? I wonder if quislings and economic illitarates Lambourn and Pearson are following this thread?

Oh he doesn't care. He is too busy squealing like a pig for big US health care companies who want a foothold in Canada.

Naturally the conservative, as dumb as ever, fails to realize that a solid social services structure, including public health care, will always cost less in the long run.

Cool. Slavery pays, doesn't it. Of course all those people being robbed ( er...taxed ) are paying the way of the corporations and the cheap labor. Here's to Karl Marx.

'From each according to his abilities , to each according to his needs.' - Karl Marx

Except for enslaving the taxpayers, but who cares about that? The state owns our lives and property anyway, as it should be.

That's wonderful. Give us your collective paychecks and we'll give you back what we think you need, comrades!

If you really want full employment and cradle to the grave care though, you should go the full communist route. That way everyone is a cared-for slave and there's no need to worry about anyone stealing your property, you don't have any. All hail the glorious workers revolution!

Congratulations on your slave pen...er, I mean glorious people's

Yes, we should point out the wonderful results of the glorious people's revolution, at every turn, and how destruction of the capitalist pigs to the south will result in full employment and cradle to grave nanny state care for all.

Stalin, Marx and Engels would be so proud! Way to go glorious

You are absolutely correct. This socialism in Canada is going to kill our economy. We will not be able to compete with the efficient nation to our south. Their efficient way of doing things will mean that we will always lose in the competition for industry and enterprise. Keep up the good work of bringing in 'Converts for Harper' Your message is being well received . Wonder how many Canadian auto workers you brought on side ..... betcha can't count them.

Ah yes, keep exporting those jobs overseas and continue to congratulate eachother on your greatness. Try to get out of the pot before the water

Whaaat? Can't read you mate.

Canadians also work sick longer that USians because they're not as fearful.

Our main advantage tho' is probably educational consistency, which is a bit like being damned by faint praise, but give us enourmous advantages over a much spottier situation in the US that averages out about the same.