Businesses and automotive experts in southwestern Ontario greeted the announcement on Monday about Volkswagen’s entry into North American electric vehicle (EV) battery production, which could become the largest facility of its type in Canadian history.
However, some residents near the future factory aren’t feeling as positive about it.
The province has announced that Volkswagen will establish a “gigafactory” for EV battery manufacturing in St. Thomas.
“It’s exciting to know that it’s actually going to land and that we’re not missing out on it,” said Brendan Sweeney, managing director of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing at Western University, a non-profit think tank that studies Ontario’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The deal has been under discussion since April 2022, according to government officials. The lengthy process that resulted in consolidating 607 hectares of land for the plant is considered a major win, according to Sweeney.
Yet not everyone feels like they’re winning here.
Anette Weesjes, who lives adjacent to the planned manufacturing site, told she feels more frustrated now than when her land was annexed into St. Thomas back in early March.
“We’re happy about progress. We think new jobs progress is great, but what about the residents who live right back to back with this?”
Weesjes is particularly worried about pollution, noise, and what she describes as a complete lack of communication from local government representatives.
When the land was initially annexed from Central Elgin to St. Thomas, neighbors were taken aback-so much so that Central Elgin’s mayor was caught off guard as well.
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Anette Weesjes is one of a dozen homeowners who live near a parcel of farmland about to be turned into a sprawling space for heavy industry by the Ontario government. She says residents were never consulted. (Colin Butler/ )
Weesjes also questions why she and other nearby residents weren’t given a chance to sell their properties.
“If they’re going to spend billions on a factory, how much does it cost to get rid of the other 10 residents? If they’re prepared to spend that kind of money on all these properties, why wouldn’t they just clean it up and help out the last 10 residents? It’s not farmland. It’s residents here sitting right on the edge of it.”
The EV battery plant aims to start operations by 2027; however, details regarding job creation remain unclear.
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‘Big grey cloud’ over community cleared
As those living close to where the plant will be built come terms with this life-altering news, others are eager for the new opportunities it’s expected to create. “We’ve been rooting for something big like this for a long time,” said Blaine Skirtschak, general manager at Messenger Freight Systems. Skirtschak views this announcement as a significant achievement during tough times following closures like Sterling in 2008 and Ford Talbotville Assembly in 2011. “It was a big grey cloud over our community. Something of this magnitude just puts us back on the map where we belong.” Skirtschak’s own company is likely positioned for benefits too since it borders the future EV battery plant location. Being part of transportation services means he hopes his experience with exporting via rail and trucking will make them an appealing local partner for Power Co-the Volkswagen subsidiary set to manage operations at the plant. “This is a positive story for once. It’s not just a St. Thomas story; it’s an Ontario story; it’s a Canada story,” he stated.The EV battery plant aims to start operations by 2027; however, details regarding job creation remain unclear.
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