Wynne says she was ‘taken aback’ by Chrysler decision to stop seeking funds

TORONTO – Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she was taken aback by Chrysler’s abrupt decision to turn down government money to upgrade two plants.

Chrysler Canada had asked Ontario and Ottawa for a reported $700 million as part of a $3.6-billion dollar investment in two plants.

The automaker says it will still bring a new minivan assembly line to Windsor, and its Brampton facility will also benefit from investment.

But it says it’s no longer seeking government funds because the issue had become a “political football.”

The federal Conservatives have also blamed the “political situation” in Ontario for Chrysler’s decision.

Wynne says she was surprised when she got the letter from Chrysler on Monday, since both the province and Ottawa were in talks with the company.

There are now “question marks about the future,” since Chrysler appears to only be talking about investments to 2016 and haven’t provided clarity on what happens after that, she said.

Her rival, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, had urged Wynne to refuse Chrysler the funds, calling it corporate extortion.