Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to manufacture a new model at its currently inactive Brampton, Ont., assembly plant following the automaker’s announcement of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding its possible sale.
Last Friday, Stellantis revealed that it had signed an MOU with Roshel, a Canadian manufacturer of armoured vehicles, concerning a potential sale of the Brampton facility.
While speaking to reporters at an unrelated news conference in Toronto on Wednesday, Joly stated that Canadian workers will be safeguarded with “any potential sale of the plant to any other company,” but she emphasized that the federal government expects more from the automaker.
“We want a new model from Stellantis at the Stellantis plant and we’ll put maximum pressure to make that happen, and if they don’t, we’ll get our money back,” she said.
Ford expressed his agreement with Joly’s statements.
“We need a model, a new model, to go in there. We have some of the best auto workers in the entire world,” Ford remarked.
Stellantis employs over 11,000 people in Ontario, and he noted that the province aims to “continue building on that.”
has reached out to Stellantis for comment.
WATCH | Joly says Ottawa putting ‘maximum pressure’ on Stellantis over Brampton plant sale:
Feds putting ‘maximum pressure’ on Stellantis over Brampton plant sale: Joly
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned that regarding the potential sale of the Stellantis plant in Brampton, Ont. – which received federal funding for retooling before the Canada-U. S. trade war – it’s essential for the car maker to deliver a new model for that location or ‘we’ll get our money back.’
Ottawa had threatened automaker over commitments
The Brampton plant has been inactive since 2023 as it was originally set for retooling for Jeep Compass production before plans were paused in early 2025. Later on, it was announced that production would shift south instead.
The decision by Stellantis to relocate Jeep Compass production drew sharp criticism from the federal government, which warned legal action could follow if Stellantis did not adhere to agreements made with both federal and provincial governments.
The commitments included fulfilling production requirements at the Brampton site in exchange for a $15-billion performance incentive provided by Ottawa and Ontario.
WATCH | Stellantis backtracks, moves Jeep production from Brampton to U. S.:
Stellantis moves Jeep production from Canada to the U. S.
The automaker announced it’s shifting Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ont., to Illinois as part of broader expansion efforts in America. This move represents yet another setback for Canada’s auto industry since trade tensions began.
The future prospects of this assembly plant have raised concerns among Unifor, which represents employees there.
The existing collective agreement between Stellantis and Unifor is set to expire on Sept. 20 at 11:59 p. m., and negotiations currently find themselves at an impasse according to a letter sent by Unifor National President Lana Payne addressed to Joly.
This letter dated Wednesday highlighted that any potential sale would affect over 2,000 workers.
“It is incumbent on the federal government to do everything possible to prevent this outcome,” Payne’s letter read.
“The Stellantis proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker never should have been considered in the first place and should be met with fierce resistance from the federal government.”
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