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 company’s announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a potential sale.
Last Friday, Stellantis disclosed the signing of an MOU with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding a possible purchase of the Brampton plant. Minister Joly, speaking at a media briefing in Toronto, emphasized the importance of safeguarding Canadian workers during any plant sale while also stressing the government’s expectations for additional commitments from Stellantis.
“We are advocating for a fresh model from Stellantis at the Brampton facility and will apply significant pressure to achieve this goal. If not, we will seek reimbursement,” stated Joly. Premier Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, highlighting the exceptional skills of Canadian auto workers and emphasizing the desire for ongoing collaboration with Stellantis.
With over 11,000 employees in Ontario, Stellantis plays a pivotal role in the province’s economy, and the government aims to build upon this foundation. CBC News has reached out to Stellantis for their perspective on the matter.
The Brampton plant of Stellantis has remained inactive since 2023, initially scheduled for retooling to facilitate Jeep Compass production before plans were halted in early 2025. Subsequently, the company revealed its decision to relocate production of the Jeep Compass to the U.S.
This move drew criticism from the federal government, which had threatened legal action against Stellantis for failing to honor commitments made under agreements with federal and provincial authorities. These commitments included meeting production targets at the Brampton plant in exchange for a substantial performance incentive of $15 billion from Ottawa and Ontario.
The recent MOU with Roshel concerning a potential sale has raised concerns among Unifor, the union representing plant workers. As the current collective agreement nears expiration, talks have reached an impasse, with Unifor urging the government to prevent any negative impact on the more than 2,000 workers at stake.
In a letter to Minister Joly, Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasized the importance of federal intervention to avert potential repercussions of selling the plant to a non-automotive entity. Payne’s letter underscored the necessity for strong opposition from the federal government against such a proposal.