Auto adviser Ray Tanguay still gathering facts for governments

Two levels of government are waiting on the advice of Ray Tanguay, but the car czar is still gathering his thoughts.

The retired auto executive was appointed as an adviser to the federal and Ontario governments almost a year ago.

Some people expected Tanguay to have all the answers they were seeking, but as he pointed out then, that's not the way the process works. He has to gather the facts before he can provide any advice, he said.

"First of all, you have to have a deep understanding. You have to engage all the stakeholders to get a lot of input," Tanguay said in an interview with CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive on Monday.

That process is still continuing, but Tanguay said progress is being made.

"Now we're in a process … to start to formulate where our priorities are going to be," he said.

Visit to Windsor

Tanguay will be in Windsor this week to participate in the Second Bi-Annual Policy & Solutions Forum, which will zero in on the state of the auto industry and where it needs to go.

Politicians, academics and stakeholders will be there, along with Tanguay. And he'll be listening to what they have to say.

"The ultimate goal for me is to develop a business plan for both levels of government and so that's where my effort is going to be in the next phase of my assignment," he said.

Tanguay said he expects his work to continue for some time.

"I said I was going to do to this for a couple of years," Tanguay said, who took on the role last June.

While Tanguay has other things he would like to do, he said this work is important to him.

"I've committed to help, to develop that strategy, because jobs in the auto industry are well-paying jobs and something that I am very passionate about," he said.