Diversification will help Ontario automotive heartland survive GM layoffs: mayor [Video]

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter called residents, hit with the news Friday morning that its biggest industrial employer will be laying off 700 workers this fall, “resilient” and said the diversification of the economy in the city will help it weather the storm.

“In these dynamic economic times, communities across Canada, including the City of Oshawa, are facing challenges and uncertainty,” Carter said. At the same time … Oshawa’s economy has grown and diversified, providing a stable and resilient economic base during these challenging times.”

Oshawa is now home to more than 75,000 jobs with an employment base that has grown by 15 per cent since 2011. The top five sectors – health care, retail trade, educational services, accommodation and food services and professional services – account for about half of all employment, with manufacturing accounting for just three to six per cent of jobs.

The city is home to four …