Ontario's premier has stated his government is ready to sweeten the pot when it comes to Windsor's electric vehicle (EV) battery plant.
During an appearance Friday in St. Catharines, Premier Doug Ford confirmed Queens Park will offer more money to Stellantis as an incentive to keep the Windsor plant on track for an opening next year. Ford responded to a question posed at a media availability following an announcement on transit.
"This is all about protecting jobs and the people. That's what it comes down to," said Ford. "Down in Windsor, before we came into office, you could shoot a cannon down a street in the middle of downtown, and you wouldn't hit anyone. This is going to be an opportunity for people to get great-paying jobs. It's going to bring certainty and stability within that region."
The automaker had raised concerns to the provincial and federal governments about their support of the Windsor project, pointing to a package offered to German rival Volkswagen for a plant in St. Thomas. Stellantis had suggested that the company could pull out of the project and set up shop in the U.S. under the Inflation Reduction Act, which has promised automakers significant support.
Stellantis and LG Energy have been involved with the talks, along with Unifor. Local 444 President Dave Cassidy called the impasse an "embarrassment for Canada." Cassidy confirmed to WindsorNewsToday.ca Thursday that work on the EV battery cell plant continues, though it has stopped on the module plant.