Global Courant
“We’re going to get this deal done,” Prime Minister Doug Ford said in Windsor on Thursday.
Ford says he was “working until 2 a.m. working things out,” as negotiations between Ottawa, Ontario, Stellantis and LG Energy Solution continue with the future of Windsor’s electric vehicle battery plant at stake.
“This is about the people, about our students, who are going to build houses here and take away jobs from the 2,500 people of Stellantis,” he said.
Ford says his government is here to support the people of Windsor like, “they’ve never seen it in over 100 years.”
“This is our future behind us here.”
LOOK | Minister Champagne answers questions about Windsor EV battery deal
Minister Champagne answers questions about Windsor EV battery deal
Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne says negotiations with Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions on a deal for the Windsor EV battery plant are continuing.
In an email response to CBC News, the automaker denied a Wednesday Toronto Star report that a tentative deal had been worked out.
“Stellantis does not confirm what has been reported and has not received an official response to any letters previously sent to date,” said Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin.
Doug Ford visits Windsor-Essex, Ontario, during negotiations to secure Stellantis, LG’s electric vehicle plant. (TJ Dhir/CBC)
“Let’s take a deep breath,” advised François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Industry.
Champagne says talks are progressing, but would also not confirm on Thursday morning that a preliminary deal has been made.
“My goal as it has always been is to get the possible deal for workers, for the auto industry and Canada,” he said.
LOOK | The US economy and new incentives put Canada at a disadvantage in Stellantis negotiations, says Prof
The US economy and new incentives put Canada at a disadvantage in Stellantis negotiations, the professor says
Two weeks of negotiations between the federal and provincial governments and Stellantis have failed to produce a new deal for the NextStar EV battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. Ian Lee, an associate professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, says the economic power of the US, coupled with the incentives provided by recent legislation, make it extremely challenging for Canada to compete.
Friday marks three weeks since Stellantis said it was moving to “contingency plans” because the federal government failed to honor its agreement. Then the automaker halted most of the construction at the site. According to the automaker and South Korean battery maker, the factory would open next year and create 2,500 jobs.
While Ford said the county would commit to “putting more money on the table,” reporters asked Champagne if the additional funding could help it comply with new U.S. legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
“If you look back at the fall economic statement, we were very, very clear about what we were doing,” Champagne said.
“To position Canadian workers for jobs for decades to come, we would level the playing field with the United States, but we would do so in a very selective, strategic and limited way.”
Champagne refers to the negotiations and the circumstances surrounding them as “generative.”
“You can never win with the money when you’re in Canada. All you’re doing is leveling the playing field,” he added, highlighting the critical minerals available in Canada and the workforce.
Ford will be in Ruthven Thursday afternoon where he is expected to speak about the expansion of Highway 3 and the possibility of connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway.
