Ottawa continues to push General Motors to reconsider its decision to close its Oshawa manufacturing plant, but ultimately it will be up the automaker to offer up new ways to keep the plant open, says Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

“The onus is on the company to come forward with ideas and proposals and suggestions for Oshawa,” Bains told BNN Bloomberg in an interview Friday. “Bottom line is – if there is a solution – we will definitely be at the table. We will definitely make sure we help both Unifor and GM move forward in a positive way.”

Bains said he pushed General Motors chief executive officer Mary Barra about the future of the plant at a meeting last month at the Detroit Auto Show.

“I was very clear about the fact that GM is making a mistake by leaving Oshawa, that we won’t make that mistake (and) we will not turn our backs on the workers.”

GM announced last fall that it plans to close the factory at the end of 2019 — a move that will put more than 2,500 employees out of work.

In a show of solidarity, Sting and the Toronto cast of his musical “The Last Ship” performed a free show in Oshawa for GM workers on Thursday. At a news conference the Grammy- winning singer criticized GM’s decision, saying the company has a “duty” to support its workers who have dedicated much of their lives to the company.