Unless I am totally misreading this article, it is not true that "we gave the policy tools away". What is true is that other countries, such as Mexico, have become as competitive as Canada in using these trade tools - financial investments, quality labour forces, and reduced payroll costs. This is what, from an economic developmental perspective, we would have been arguing that Mexico should do.  In addition, common social processes such as production assembly lines have become highly automated, and focused on common quality and safety issues. Why should any of this surprise us? Why do we act as if we have a "god or goddess given right" to hold onto manufacturing in established industries such as the auto sector? Mexico is doing what it should be doing, including developing as much more educated and skilled work force. Canada should be looking at the longer term, not at protecting current manufacturing jobs in the auto sector.