TORONTO (CBC) - The NDP says the Ontario Liberal government should have pressed for tougher job guarantees in exchange for the hundreds of millions of dollars it gave to Detroit's Big Three automakers.

The government says General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have met all the job guarantee conditions that were required in exchange for close to $400 million in loans and grants.

Earlier this week GM announced it will close its transmission plant in Windsor in 2010, putting 1,400 people out of work.

Two weeks earlier the carmaker said it was cutting a shift at its Oshawa plant, which will mean laying off 900 workers.

But Ontario Economic Development Minister Sandra Pupatello said on Tuesday the loan commitments are plant specific and don't guarantee that the companies will keep a certain number of jobs in the province overall.

"There's not one multinational that would sign a contract with the Ontario government with that kind of circumstance," said Pupatello.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said GM did make a commitment: "I am confident that they will [protect jobs]."

But NDP Leader Howard Hampton said no explanation can change the bottom line. Simply put, he said, "jobs are disappearing."

Conservative Leader John Tory said the layoffs show the government is on the wrong course. Even the huge infusion of money has failed to prevent the loss of auto jobs, he said.

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