Brampton hasn’t built a vehicle since 2023, but now, it’s being sold and the news is hitting home in Windsor. “Selling the Brampton plant is simply unacceptable. Selling any auto plant is simply unacceptable,” said James Stewart, president of Unfor Local 444. “We have three shifts of workers in Windsor not working right now.” Windsor Assembly is dealing with down time which Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky knows about firsthand. “My husband is an auto worker at Stellantis. He’s been laid off, this is week four so it’s very concerning about the future of Stellantis, the Windsor Assembly Plant,” Gretzky noted. She says about 200 workers from Brampton are working in Windsor and now face more uncertainty. Industry watcher Greg Layson says the concern is fair but there’s another side to the story. “I agree with James Stewart in that If they can do this to Brampton, they can do it anywhere, the flip side of that coin is they build two products in Windsor that aren’t built anywhere else.” Layson, who is the digital editor for Automotive News Canada, believes the company can’t sell off the Brampton plant without giving Windsor something in return. He calls it a PR nightmare otherwise. “Ultimately it should end up with three shifts of production in Windsor, mini vans, muscle cars and probably something else.” Essex MPP Anthony Leardi says the plant’s new owner, a defence contractor, could replace many of those jobs. He feels there are brighter days ahead for automaking in Canada. “I believe short term, there’s gong to be a lot of disruption but in the long term we are going to win out, and manufacturing is going to stay in Canada.” Leardi told CTV News. Gretzky believes the government needs to do more to protect the jobs they fund. “When the government is investing because they are investments into those plants and those jobs.” Gretzky said. “There need to be strings attached that actually ensure those jobs will remain here in our province and in our country.” The table flip by Stellantis comes at a time when the company and the union continue to find a path to a new deal. “We have to get back to a negotiated, respected and honoured USMCA.” Layson said. “Without that, you are constantly living in uncertainty and auto does not invest or work or move forward with all of this cloud of uncertainty over it.”
