Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to introduce a new model at its inactive Brampton, Ontario assembly plant following the automaker’s announcement of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a potential sale. Joly emphasized the importance of safeguarding Canadian workers in any potential sale of the plant to another company, while also expressing the government’s expectation for additional commitments from Stellantis.
Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a new model at the Brampton plant and highlighting the exceptional skills of Canadian auto workers. With over 11,000 employees in Ontario, Stellantis plays a crucial role in the province’s economy, and the government aims to further strengthen this partnership.
Stellantis’ Brampton plant has been inactive since 2023 due to plans to retool it for Jeep Compass production, which were later paused in early 2025. The decision to relocate Jeep Compass production to the U.S. sparked a strong reaction from the federal government, which threatened legal action over commitments made by Stellantis in exchange for a $15-billion performance incentive from Ottawa and Ontario.
The potential sale of the Brampton plant to Roshel has raised concerns among Unifor, the union representing plant workers, especially as the current collective agreement is set to expire soon. Talks between the automaker and the union are at a standstill, with Unifor urging the federal government to intervene to prevent any negative impact on the workers. The union stresses that the proposed sale to a non-automaker should face strong opposition from the government.
The situation at the Brampton plant remains uncertain, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments following the MOU with Roshel. Discussions between the union, automaker, and government officials are ongoing to address the challenges and secure the future of the plant and its workforce.
