The top executives from General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler appeared before the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, defending their companies from critics and asking for a share of the federal bailout money. But politicians appeared reluctant to help.

Democrats are proposing to devote US$25 billion of the $700-billion bailout package to the struggling Detroit Three, but on Tuesday, senators seemed less than convinced it was deserved.

"We have little evidence that $25 billion will do anything to promote long-term success," said Republican Sen. Michael Enzi.

The executives, including the chief officer for General Motors, Rick Wagoner, told Congress that their current financial problems were not self-inflicted, as critics have said, but rather mainly tied to the credit crisis.

They also warned that if the automakers fail, it will have a devastating impact on the overall American economy.

North of the border, the head of the Canadian Auto Workers said it would also devastate Canada.

CAW President Ken Lewenza said the failure of even one of those companies would be a "devastating blow to the economy, a devastating blow to consumers out there and quite frankly devastating to our members."

Ontario, especially, would suffer, he told CTV Newsnet.

"It's not even imaginable what would happen in communities like Oshawa, Windsor, St. Catharines, Oakville. These communities are dominated by the auto industry."

Lewenza said the union has done its part to respond to the Detroit Three's shrinking market share, giving up hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions in collective bargaining.

However, Lewenza didn't blame management either, saying "nobody anticipated at the beginning of this business year we would be selling 12 to 13 million vehicles in the United States, when most people were anticipating 16 or 17."

Representatives from Ottawa and Ontario will also take part this week in discussions in Washington about the future of the industry, which is estimated to employ between 400,000 and 500,000 Canadians.

Bailout details

A copy of the legislation proposed to U.S. Congress, obtained by The Associated Press, suggests the bailout would deny bonuses to executives earning over US$250,000, and would require the automakers to show plans for their "long-term financial viability."

Mark Nantais, of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, said it's not enough for Canada to respond to steps the U.S. takes. Rather, the two industries must act as one.

"We've been an integrated industry since 1965," Nantais told CTV's Canada AM.

"We established the Auto Pact as an integrated industry, we went to the NAFTA table as an integrated industry, we've worked on customs security programs since 9-11 as an integrated industry. So it makes absolute sense to do it lockstep with the United States."

Nantais said he welcomes the fact that Canada has sent representatives to Washington to look into what can be done to help the auto sector.

Industry Minister Tony Clement and Ontario's Economic Development Minister Michael Bryant are heading to the U.S. Capitol this week on a so-called fact-finding mission.

While some argue that a bailout from Ottawa would be akin to rewarding bad management, Nantais said so much of Canada's economy relies on the industry that it would be devastating to let the Detroit Three fail.

He said as much as 12 per cent of Canada's manufacturing GDP comes from the auto industry, which employs roughly 500,000 workers, directly or indirectly, across the country.

"Clearly every one should be very concerned -- since the auto industry is a cornerstone of our economy -- about its long term viability here."

However, with the right help, the industry will recover, he said.

"This is something we're looking for in a temporary period of time to get us through this period, to complete our transition plans and put in place the necessary new technologies and new environmentally friendly and fuel efficient vehicles going forward," Nantais said.