Robert Brindley thinks Barrie’s automotive industry is safe from feeling any ripple effects from the closure of the General Motors plant in Oshawa.

Brindley is the city’s director of economic development and said – as far as he knows –the auto manufacturers in the area don’t supply to GM.

“With just-in-time delivery, Barrie is influenced by Honda and we’re seeing those plants’ products selling well. Ford in Oakville is also doing well,” said Brindley.

“But I don’t doubt that in some way, the proposed closure of GM will have spinoff effects throughout Ontario.”

Last week, General Motors announced it will close the Oshawa truck plant next year and probably won't reopen it. The closure is being blamed on low sales of pickup trucks in the U.S.

Approximately 2,600 jobs overall are affected by the decision, with another 6,000 people still keeping their jobs at GM’s car plant.  

The Canadian Autoworkers’ Union is threatening strike action and has already staged one protest.

Brindley said he doesn’t underestimate Barrie’s manufacturing sector, and that local companies usually adapt to change. “They may manufacture specialty work but can branch out to produce other products (for other clients).”

If GM thinks the high price of gas has played a role in people’s car-buying decisions, Alliston’s Honda manufacturing plant isn’t showing signs of the pinch.

The company just celebrated the opening of an affiliated aluminum recycling plant called Molten Aluminum Producer Canada Inc. (MAPCAN), and a new engine plant, supplying engines for the Civic, is expected to open this fall.

What is changing at the plant is the production of the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck , which is moving to Alabama. According to Honda, the shift will allow the Alliston Plant 2 to build more Civic models. The Civic is Honda’s most popular car in Canada, and has been for the past decade.