Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to introduce a new model at its dormant Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant following the automaker’s announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a potential sale. Stellantis revealed that it has signed an MOU with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel concerning the potential sale of its Brampton plant. Minister Joly emphasized the protection of Canadian workers in any potential sale but emphasized the government’s expectation for additional commitments from the automaker.
“We are advocating for a new model from Stellantis to be produced at the plant, and we will exert maximum pressure to ensure this happens. If not, we will seek a refund,” stated Joly during a press briefing in Toronto.
Premier Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, affirming the need for a fresh model to be implemented at the facility. He praised the exceptional skills of Canadian auto workers and highlighted Stellantis’ significant workforce in Ontario, expressing the province’s desire to further expand on this collaboration.
Stellantis, which employs over 11,000 individuals in Ontario, has been under scrutiny for its decision to halt the retooling of the Brampton plant initially intended for Jeep Compass production in 2023. The subsequent relocation of Jeep Compass production to the U.S. triggered strong reactions from the federal government, which had threatened legal action if Stellantis failed to honor its commitments outlined in an agreement with the federal and provincial governments, including meeting production obligations at the Brampton plant in exchange for a $15-billion performance incentive.
Concerns over the future of the assembly plant have arisen following the recent MOU with Roshel regarding a potential sale, drawing attention from Unifor, the union representing plant workers. Talks between the automaker and union have reached an impasse as the current collective agreement nears expiration. Unifor has raised alarms that a potential sale would impact more than 2,000 workers and called on the federal government to intervene to prevent adverse outcomes.
In a letter to Minister Joly, Unifor National President Lana Payne urged the government to take all necessary measures to prevent the sale to a non-automaker, emphasizing that such a proposal should be vehemently opposed by federal authorities to protect the interests of the workforce.