Stephen Harper announces $100M manufacturing fund in Windsor, Ont.

The Conservatives are making another move to woo communities that depend on manufacturingwith a planned $100 million fund, which Leader Stephen Harper announced during acampaign stop today in Windsor,Ont.

"Manufacturing has a bright future in Canada and we are going to transition into it," Harper said to supporters.

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The "manufacturing technology demonstrationfund"would be available over five years as grants for major projects.

However, it won't be accessible until 2017-18.

The eligible sectors are:

• Automotive.
• Information and communication technology.
• Steel.
• Aluminum.
• Machinery and equipment.

But promises of new money won't be enough to win over some voters.

Support for the manufacturing sector has been a point of contention in the campaign. Flagging oil prices have hurt the Canadian economy and Harper's opponents argue he hasn't done enough to support other sectors, including manufacturing.

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While Harper tried his hand at car part manufacturing during a photo op at CrestMold Technology on the outskirts of the city in Oldcastle, Ont, a handful of protesters stood outside, mostlyholding signs noting Windsor's high unemployment rate and job losses.

"I think it takes a lot of nerve to come down here after a decade of this city, off and on, being the No. 1 unemployment capital of Canada," saidprotesterRandy Emerson. "The man says he's created 1.3 million net new jobs. Well, where are they here?"

"We had a plant here, GM, that had thousands of workers. It's gone. Where was he then? Now he comesat election time to ask for our vote?"

Speaking to reporters at a rally held later, the Conservative leader repeated that his government intervened in "an unprecedented manner" during the economic crisis to "save the economy of the auto sector and to save the economy of the greater Windsor region."

Earlier in the campaign, the Conservatives also announced $30 million towards an advanced manufacturing hubin Burlington, Ont., also aimed at encouraging innovation.

Harper told CBC Radio's The Housethis weekone of the reasons he hopes to be re-elected is to work with the manufacturingsector. He argues the economic plans of both the Liberals and the NDP would result in further job losses.

Support for Windsor candidates

The visit to Windsor was Harper's first of the campaign and he was the first of the party leaders to travel to the city since the election was formally called.

NDP Leader TomMulcairvisited Windsor shortly before the campaign officially startedand Liberal Leader JustinTrudeauwas in the area earlier this year.

Ahead of Harper's arrival in the southwestern Ontario city on Sunday, advisory notes sent to reporters had indicated that the Conservative leader wouldappearalongside Henry Lau, a Conservative candidate who is running in Windsor West.

Other local candidates were also present,including Jo-Anne Gignac, a city councillorwho is running as aConservative in Windsor-Tecumseh and Jeff Watson, the incumbent in the riding ofEssex.

The leaders and their local candidates have aboutfour weeks left to make their pitch to voters, before Canadians head to the polls on Oct. 19.

The campaignis the longest that Canada has seen in recent memory.