Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly have jointly called upon Stellantis to introduce a new model at its dormant Brampton, Ont., assembly plant following the automaker’s announcement of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a potential sale.
Last Friday, Stellantis disclosed the signing of an MOU with Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel for the potential sale of its Brampton plant. Minister Joly emphasized the protection of Canadian workers during any potential sale, affirming the federal government’s intent to push for more commitments from the automaker.
Joly stated, “We are advocating for a new model from Stellantis at the Brampton plant, and we will exert maximum pressure to ensure its realization. Failure to comply will result in the recollection of our investment.” Premier Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a new model at the plant, underlining the exceptional skills of Canadian auto workers.
With over 11,000 employees in Ontario, Stellantis plays a significant role in the province’s economy, and both Premier Ford and Minister Joly are keen on sustaining and enhancing this partnership. CBC News has reached out to Stellantis for their response.
The Brampton plant of Stellantis has remained inactive since 2023, originally scheduled for retooling to produce Jeep Compass before the plans were halted in early 2025. The subsequent decision to relocate Jeep Compass production to the U.S. provoked a stern reaction from the federal government, which threatened legal action if Stellantis did not honor its commitments to the federal and provincial governments.
These commitments included meeting production quotas at the Brampton plant in exchange for a substantial performance incentive of $15 billion from Ottawa and Ontario. The recent MOU with Roshel on a potential sale has raised concerns among Unifor, the union representing plant workers.
The current collective agreement between the automaker and the union is nearing expiration, with talks at a standstill. Unifor National President Lana Payne has urged the federal government to intervene, emphasizing the potential impact on over 2,000 workers. Payne’s letter to Minister Joly highlighted the necessity of preventing the sale to a non-automaker and urged strong resistance from the federal government against such a move.