OSHAWA, Ont. (CP) -- Jack Layton says an NDP government would spend $8.2 billion over four years to fuel the creation of "green-collar" jobs and industries.
The NDP leader is making the announcement at a campaign event in Oshawa, Ont., the cradle of Canada's hard-hit auto sector.
Layton says the money would include $4 billion to help the auto industry design and produce environmentally friendly cars and trucks.
Another $3 billion would go towards retraining workers for so-called "green-collar" jobs in the environmental industry.
He says the NDP would also spend $400 million on a job protection commissioner charged with investigating major layoffs and plant shutdowns to prevent jobs from leaving Canada.
Another $840 million would go towards research and development tax credits.