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24 * WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, March 19, 2008 5 YEAR â€"â€"â€" 2008 Tucson L NEW CASH PURCHASE PRICE $21,195 MSRP LESS oo rrcrsaae m e nc lt l 0 oi ns 16,995 onge + 5 YEAR /100,000 KM LMITED WARRANTY" s WivE No DEDUCTIBLE he issues facing Waterloo Region I and Ontario manufacturers conâ€" tinue to dominate the national economic policy agenda. Volatility in the Canadian dollar, risâ€" ing operating costs and competition from emerging markets have persisted as major industry challenges. The most visible impact of these pressures is the loss of 64,000 Ontario manufacturing jobs in 2007 and a cumulative deficit of 200,000 positions over the last five years. Both the provincial and federal levâ€" els of government are under escalating demands to provide further industry support through expanded tax cuts and financial assistance packages. However, a recent study by the City of Kitchener provides a new and optiâ€" mistic perspective on the current ecoâ€" nomic climate in manufacturing. Local manufacturing study indicates there‘s room to be optimistic GTP mode! shown 2008 Tiburon 6S also available, see your local dealer for details. $18,995 MSRP LESS Over the past year, city staff and 245 pp 58 {i}f id i §i 13 a¢ i i: members of Kitchener‘s economic development advisory committee met with 88 local manufacturers to better quantify conditions and commence a strategy for capitalizing on future opportunities. Statistics compiled across a variety of sources persistently emphasize the importance of manufacturing in Waterloo Region. Approximately 25 per cent of our local workforce is employed in the secâ€" tor, which ranks us second in Canada behind Windsor. In 2006, total revenue generated from manufacturing was $17 billion, and a further 1.2 per cent increase in output occurred in 2007. While centres such as Windsor have concentrated their activities in the automotive secâ€" tor, Waterloo Region remains highly diversified with significant operations in food processing, furniture, fabricatâ€" ed metals, electronics and digital media. In Ontario, manufacturing conâ€" tributes 20 per cent of the gross domestic product and approximately $300 billion to the provincial economy. Manufacturing and exporting provide direct and indirect employment to one million and 1.8 million Ontario workâ€" ers respectively. Of the companies interviewed by City of Kitchener officials, 36 per cent confirmed plans to hire additional employees in 2008, compared to only three per cent that are looking at decreased levels. Over the next three years, survey participants indicated a total of 1,011 jobs will become available through new positions or vacancies. Furthermore, a total of 67 per cent of respondents indicated they are either hiring additional staff or mainâ€" taining existing complements. More than oneâ€"half of surveyed manufacturers employ foreignâ€"trained workers, which the industry considers an important group for meeting future skills requirements. Overall, on an extremely positive note, 95 per cent of respondents indiâ€" cated they are "satisfied" or "very satisâ€" Discover T USCANY For information and to RSVP please call 620 Davenport Rd, #37, Waterioo . FaL FOwnas t 519â€"746â€"9570 : Continued on page 25