Unifor’s national president urges the Canadian government to uphold Stellantis’ previous commitments to Canada and its automotive workforce. Lana Payne commended Industry Minister Mélanie Joly’s recent efforts to reclaim tax incentives given to the automaker. Payne emphasized that companies must face tariffs if they fail to honor their promises to Canadian workers.
Following Stellantis’ decision to shift jobs related to the new Jeep Compass model from Ontario to Illinois, Canada initiated a dispute resolution process. Despite Stellantis claiming that the Brampton facility is on hold, not shut down, the government has taken action to address the situation. Payne stressed the importance of leveraging all available tools to retain production in Canada and prevent further job losses.
The automotive industry, a vital sector for Canada, requires firm action to safeguard jobs and ensure companies fulfill their obligations. Both the Ontario and Canadian governments had previously committed substantial subsidies to Stellantis, including agreements to establish an electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor and upgrade manufacturing facilities in Windsor and Brampton for electric vehicle production.