TORONTO - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says financial aid requests from the Detroit Three automakers are "capable of being dealt with."
The automakers submitted requests to Ottawa and Ontario for various forms of financial help on Friday reported to be worth $6.8 billion.
While not commenting specifically on the dollar amount, Flaherty says further talks are needed and that terms and conditions will be imposed on the automakers.
He made the comments in Toronto on Monday at the groundbreaking for an environmental centre.
Despite Parliament being suspended until late January, Industry Minister Tony Clement has said there are funds in the last budget to help automakers.
On Monday, when asked why he's waiting until the end of January to deliver a budget amid an economic downturn, Flaherty insisted his government has been, and is, stimulating the economy.
He pointed to new tax provisions that take effect in January and a doubling of infrastructure spending.
Canada is in a better position than any country in the world to weather the economic downturn and will meet stimulus promises made to its G20 partners, Flaherty added.
