Canada auto bailout may make sense: Can. minister

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Canada's industry minister said on Friday that a co-ordinated U.S.-Canada bailout package for the struggling auto industry may be possible, and he is planning a fact-finding trip to explore the option.

"People talk about it, they talk about the need to have an integrated solution, and from a theoretical point of view that makes sense," Minister of Industry Tony Clement told reporters.

"But how viable is it? When you drill down on it, what exactly does that mean? And that's why I have an obligation to my caucus and Cabinet colleagues to do some more information gathering.

Clement said he plans to visit industry and government officials in Detroit and Washington in the coming days to glean more details.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Jones; editing by Rob Wilson)