Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement reports that the Big Three automakers -- Chrysler, Ford and General Motors -- remain "optimistic" that they will still have a strong North American market in the future, even though they have suffered serious losses in recent months.

Clement and Ontario Economic Development Minister Michael Bryant were in Detroit on Wednesday to learn more about a possible U.S. bailout plan for North America's struggling automakers.

Clement told The Canadian Press on Wednesday afternoon that the meetings had been successful, but he would not go into specifics about how badly the auto giants are suffering financially.

"Each executive that we met with today was very optimistic about having a domestic, continent-wide auto sector that can build cars and sell cars that people want to buy," he said.

Bryant said the automakers made it clear that they "very much want to have a bright future in Canada."

"The information that we've gathered so far certainly confirms the crisis that they're under," he said. "Some companies are in different shape than others, but regardless, they're all facing a liquidity crisis and it's coming to a head in Washington this week."

On Thursday, Bryant and Clement will head to Washington for additional talks.

The two ministers expect to meet with politicians from both the House of Representatives and the Senate on Thursday, although "the list keeps changing," Bryant said.

At present, the U.S. is considering spending up to US$25 billion to help the auto industry -- but there are some concerns that at least one of the major North American automakers may go broke before that money arrives.

Clement has discussed the possibility of a joint Canada-U.S. agreement but Bryant has been urging Canadian officials to act before the Americans in order to maximize leverage and protect Canadian jobs.

In Ontario alone, the auto industry employs an estimated 125,000 people and puts an estimated $28 billion into the provincial economy each year.

On Wednesday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty he expects Ontario will have a smaller-sized auto industry in the years to come.

Previously, McGuinty said he is also concerned that president-elect Barack Obama will make the Big Three keep their jobs in America in order to receive financial assistance.

Charlotte Yates, dean of social sciences at McMaster University, said Canada ideally should have a plan in place before the Americans or at least in tandem.

"Canada needs to be up first," Yates told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday. "If it can be leading the pack then it may be able to shape the terms and conditions not just in Canada but start framing its own deal in terms of a regional economy."

On Tuesday, the top executives from the Detroit Three appeared before the U.S. Congress seeking their share of the federal bailout money.

The executives appeared before Congress on Wednesday as well.

With files from The Canadian Press