Prime Minister Doug Ford said that a large automotive assembly factory in western Ontario must quickly reopen after announcing a two -week closure against US president Donald Trump.
Stellantis confirmed that he would introduce a temporary closure of his automotive assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, between April 7 and April 21 after Trump has put 25% of non -American vehicles.
The Windsor assembly plant produces the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Grand Caravan, Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Charge Daytona.
Ford said he was keeping hope that the closure would only last for two weeks planned and would not lead to job losses.
“I hope it does not amount to recycling because I hope that this plant will reopen-it is a temporary closure,” he said. “I mentioned my concerns at the CEO of Stellantis and how we must have this plant and go, which should be operational.”
Unifor, the union which represents workers of the Windsor assembly plant, said that it was worried about job losses.
“Our members are concerned about their work and frustrated by the uncertainty that these unjust and useless prices create throughout the industry,” said Uniform’s local 444 section, James Stewart.
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“We are ready to fight for our jobs with the full support of Unifor members across the country.”
Unifor, which is the largest union in the country’s private sector, said that it represents 4,500 workers at the Stellantis factory in Windsor and more employed in the local supply chain.
During the recent electoral campaign, Ford had promised tens of billions of dollars in prices. Its platform included support for payroll, tax reference, recycling and sorting centers for dismissed workers.
Speaking Thursday morning, however, Ford said that the federal government would take the lead of the support workers.
“We work with the federal government. They will make announcements and we will be there to support car workers in all directions we can, “he said.
Ford added that he thought the automotive sector remained in danger – and would need prices to be abandoned or considerably reduced.
“I think the threat is very high. Even at 12.5% (prices), these automotive companies do not make money put back their fists,” he said. “They mainly try to get started day by day and keep their employees.”
The opposition parties call on the Prime Minister to summon an inter-party working group to decide to support workers and broader economic reform in order to reduce dependence on the American economy.
“I think it is really important that before the return of the legislative assembly that we have the opportunity to talk about what is going on,” said NPD chief Marit Stiles on Thursday.
“I think the Prime Minister would do well to listen to people from all political gangs and also the voices of these workers, these members of the community and their families who will be the most deeply affected.”
The Liberals echoed this call – and deputy Stephanie Bowman, the party’s financial critic, said that all parties could work on a local purchasing policy.
“We have called on the Prime Minister to make sure that all the parties are at the table-all of us, I’m sure we have good ideas,” she said. “I think one of the things we really talk about is to build and buy local.”
Ontario legislature is expected to return on April 14 and Ford said that his first legislation would tackle interprotrovincial commercial barriers.
– with a Canadian press file
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