Premier Doug Ford has expressed his determination to urge Stellantis to honor its commitment to keep the assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, operational, despite the automaker’s decision to relocate Jeep production originally planned for the plant to the United States. Ford, disappointed by the move, emphasized the importance of the Canadian auto manufacturing sector and vowed to advocate for the Brampton plant’s continuity.
The announcement of Stellantis’s $13 billion U.S. expansion plan, revealed on Tuesday, raised concerns about the shift in production from Canada to the U.S. Ford stressed the capability of Ontario to produce top-quality vehicles and pledged unwavering support to maintain operations at the Brampton facility.
In response to the news, the federal government, through Industry Minister Melanie Joly, issued a stern warning to Stellantis, expressing deep concern over the decision and emphasizing the importance of honoring commitments made to Canada and its workforce. The letter underscored the government’s readiness to take legal action if necessary to ensure accountability.
Regarding provincial funding for the plant, Ford clarified that no funds had been disbursed to Stellantis for the Brampton project, highlighting the need for clear assurances on resuming plant operations before any financial support is provided. The premier reiterated his stance on withholding funding until specific benchmarks are met.
Various Canadian officials, including Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, raised concerns about the impact of the decision on the community, emphasizing the significant investments made to support the automotive industry in Windsor and Brampton. The commitment to retool the Brampton plant for electric vehicle production was part of a substantial financial package from the provincial and federal governments, contingent on meeting specified conditions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney attributed the production shift to U.S. tariffs and pledged to collaborate with Stellantis to explore alternative opportunities in the Brampton area. The mayor of Brampton echoed concerns about the detrimental effects of tariffs and urged the federal government to take a strong stance against such actions.
Stellantis affirmed its ongoing investments in Canada and its commitment to dialogue with the government regarding the future of the Brampton facility. The company assured that plans for Brampton would be shared following further discussions with Canadian officials.
Unifor national president Lana Payne called on the federal government to safeguard Canadian auto jobs and emphasized the need to prioritize the preservation of the Brampton Assembly plant. The union urged decisive action to prevent further erosion of the auto sector and to send a clear message to corporations considering similar actions.
Despite initial preparations for Jeep Compass production at the Brampton plant, halted due to tariff concerns, Stellantis remains focused on expanding its U.S. Jeep production capacity. The move to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois is expected to create thousands of new jobs, further underlining the shifting dynamics in North American auto manufacturing.