The Canadian arms of GeneralMotors (GM.N) and Chrysler CBS.UL should wrap up talks withOttawa quickly on their restructuring plans because a 'dropdead' date for agreeing on terms for government aid is fastapproaching, Industry Minister Tony Clement said on Monday.



Clement said that Feb. 20 is the deadline for theautomakers to come up with a comprehensive plan that wouldallow them to get government aid.



'We're not going to be rushed into things, if we don't feelthat taxpayers' interests are being protected. But one wouldhave thought that we would have been at the conclusion at thisphase by now. We are not,' Clement told reporters following abreakfast speech in Toronto.



'I guess I am signaling to them: let's get a move on. Let'sfinish our discussion and dialogue and if you need the money,let's flow the money. If you don't need the money that's finetoo, we understand that.'



Canada and the Ontario government unveiled an aid packagelast month that provided C$4 billion ($3.2 billion) inemergency loans to the Canadian arms of the ailing automakersto keep them operating while they restructure.



However, General Motors of Canada and Chrysler Canada havenot yet taken advantage of the funds. Ford Motor Co (F.N) ofCanada has not asked for assistance.



The package, announced on Dec. 20, came one day after theU.S. government unveiled a $17.4 billion package to prop upDetroit's ailing auto industry.



Clement said that the Canadian aid issue is complicated,but said in his speech that he was 'disappointed' by theslowness of the process.



'In fairness to them, this is a rather complicatedbi-national situation that involves concurrent discussion withboth the U.S. Treasury Department and Congress, as well as theCanadian government and the Ontario government,' he toldreporters.



'My point of view is that where there is a will there is away, but let's start to make sure that the Canadian branch ofthis integrated industry has a competitive plan for thefuture.'



Jim Stanford, an economist at the Canadian Auto Workersunion, said he was not surprised by the automakers' reluctanceto jump at the funding, noting that the companies must firstdigest the plans being made by their U.S. parents.



'Clearly the future of the companies depends primarily onwhat happens from the U.S. government, and that's their firstpriority,' he said.



'The fact that the federal and Ontario governmentsindicated upfront that they will be a proportional part of thatsolution was crucial, so that the companies, as they areplanning their restructuring, are ensuring that they keep aproportional footprint in Canada. I am not surprised that thedetails of the Canadian arrangement have not been plugged inyet.'