General Motors says yes to new transmission line

A new transmission line guaranteeing 350 manufacturing jobs for the Garden City is a go, said General Motors on Saturday (place marketing).
Vice-president David Paterson said General Motors Canada has received letters of agreement from federal and provincial governments pledging a combined $140 million to new projects in St. Catharines and Oshawa.
“That gives us the confidence to proceed immediately with the investment in St. Catharines,” said Paterson Saturday.
“This is a victory. We’re going through a significant transformation of our operations in Canada, and St. Catharines is an important part of that.”
Paterson said the new front-wheel drive, six-speed transmission line will be used in at least three new mid-sized, fuel-efficient vehicles.
The company will invest $245 million in the Glendale plant as a result, with production expected to start in April 2011.
The transmission line will employ about 350 people, said Paterson.
The new work is expected to offset disappearing jobs associated with less-fuel efficient truck production, he added.
The fuel-efficient transmissions will be used in vehicle production in Oshawa, which also benefits from the government and GM investment.
Oshawa will build a new hybrid vehicle and receive $40 million towards environmental technology research.
The Standard first reported the tentative deal after Liberal MPP Jim Bradley and Conservative MP Rick Dykstra confirmed government support for the long-awaited project Friday night.