COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – Advocating for Canadian workers

More than 3,000 Stellantis workers in Brampton, Ont. received unsettling news this past week: the automaker plans to move Jeep Compass production south to the United States. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the community, with workers and their families now facing uncertainty about their futures. Stellantis confirmed it will invest $13 billion (US) in its American operations — a major boost for U.S. factories and workers, but a serious blow to Canada’s auto sector. The move also raises new concerns about the competitiveness of Canada’s manufacturing industry and the federal government’s ability to retain major auto investments in Canada.

To put that into perspective, the number of homes and families impacted by this decision would be the equivalent to the entire municipality of Ritchot, which includes the towns of St Adolphe, Ste Agathe, Iles-des-Chênes, Grande Pointe, Glenlea, Howden and their surrounding areas.

One of the most striking ironies of the decision is that the Liberal government recently committed up to $15 billion in taxpayer funds to support Stellantis in building an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Ontario. Despite that massive public investment, the automaker is still shifting Jeep production to the U.S. — a move that raises fresh questions about the effectiveness of Ottawa’s industrial strategy and the return Canadians are getting on such high-cost corporate subsidies.

Throughout the previous election, we listened as Prime Minister Mark Carney assured Canadians, he had bragging rights to negotiate a “win” for Canadians. Instead, since Prime Minister Carney and his Liberals took office, 97,700 more Canadians have lost their jobs. The numbers are staggering. Seven hundred General Motors workers in Oshawa are now out of work, even as the company announced $4 billion US in investment in the U.S. Similarly, 1,200 automotive workers at the GM plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, were told this week that they would be laid off as GM announced they would be ending production of their delivery vans at that facility — yet another sign of Canada’s struggling manufacturing competitiveness under the current Liberal government.

Where is the “win” we were promised? So far, the results tell a different story. On Oct. 8, the U.S. Commerce Secretary confirmed tariffs on Canadian finished autos are now permanent. Just days later, on Oct. 14, the U.S. announced a 10 percent increase in softwood lumber tariffs — now triple what they were when this government first took office. This occurred on the same day Stellantis announced it would shift Jeep production south.

If this is not baffling enough, consider this: during an Oct. 7 meeting in Washington, Prime Minister Carney promised President Trump $1 trillion in Canadian investment south of the border. Coincidentally, Stellantis’ announcement edged that promise $13 billion closer to reality. Add to that the half-trillion dollars already invested in the U.S., and another $50 billion in new American projects with Canadian investment in just the six months since Carney took office — and it’s no wonder Mr. Trump may be walking to the bank with a grin, glancing back at a Canada left trailing behind.

Canada is already experiencing a significant downflow in production and capital investment. For the Canadian car manufacturing industry, one of the biggest regulatory barriers has been the EV mandate. Since it was introduced, it has weighed heavily on the industry. As one Honda executive said on record, “EV policy is not aligned to support Canadian production.” After the environment minister previously refused to consider calls from the auto sector to repeal or roll back the mandate, it was finally paused for a 60-day review in September. While the pause temporarily eased some 2026 targets, the Liberal EV mandate remains unchanged: 100 percent of all new vehicles sold in Canada must be electric by 2035.

Industry leaders say that uncertainty for manufacturers and investors discourages long-term commitment in Canada. For example, the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association warned that the current mandate only punishes the industry — particularly damaging when compounded with U.S. tariffs. Adding to the concern is the sharp decline in EV sales across the sector, suggesting that consumer demand has not kept pace with government ambition.

If the government has made provisions to secure the jobs of 3,000 Stellantis employees, Canadians deserve to see that assurance. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has stated that allowing the Brampton plant to close would place Stellantis in default of its federal funding agreement. Canadians now await proof of that claim in the contracts that granted the automaker billions of taxpayer dollars.

But Stellantis is only part of the picture. Canada’s auto, lumber, steel, and agriculture sectors all need a government willing to stand up for them, not one that continually bends to pressure from Washington. Prime Minister Carney, Canadians are watching — and they’re waiting to see the “win” they were promised