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Automotive Industry

Question period focused on the Stellantis plant in Brampton, where about 1,800 workers have lost their jobs. Kyle Seeback, a Conservative, said the industry minister promised a year ago that the plant would reopen or public money would be returned, and that neither happened; he said former workers have run out of income support and some are losing their homes, and asked what action the government would take. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly pointed to new collective agreements at GM and Ford, said the government wants Stellantis back at the bargaining table and a new car model built in Brampton, and said the government would take its money back if the company does not build there. She also argued the Conservatives’ past auto strategy left out auto parts makers and major plants in Ontario.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

5 statements

Kyle Seeback

Conservative

Linked statement

“The industry minister promised the Stellantis plant would reopen or Canadians would get their money back. Neither happened, and 1,800 workers lost their jobs. I want the minister to take real action to protect these jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, almost a year ago the industry minister stood in the House and proclaimed that the Stellantis plant would reopen or she would get Canadians’ money back. Neither one turned out to be true, because the Liberals are all talk and no action. It is the same thing when they say they are going to double housing or that it is the most affordable in a decade. Neither one is true. These failures, though, have real consequences. Eighteen hundred Stellantis workers have lost their jobs. Many have actually lost their homes. When will the Liberal minister move from talk to actual action to protect these jobs?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“GM and Ford reached deals with their workers. Now Stellantis needs to get back to talks with its union. We want the Brampton workers back on the job and a car model made at that plant. We will always support our auto workers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 27 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight good news on the part of GM. They were able to get to collective bargaining across this country. There is also good news for Ford, which was able to get to collective bargaining as well. Now, when it comes to Stellantis, the position of the government has always been clear: We need the Stellantis Brampton workers back on the job. We need a model back at Brampton. I have been in contact with Unifor, Stellantis, Doug Ford and Vic Fedeli from the Ontario government. We expect the parties to continue their collective bargaining and go back to the table. We will be there to defend our auto workers all the time.

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Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The minister promised to protect 1,800 Stellantis jobs or get the public money back. She did neither, and now those workers have no support left and are losing their homes. Why is she still a minister?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those are literally the same out-of-touch talking points that she used a year ago, saying, “We are going to do something.” Those 1,800 jobs are gone. Those 1,800 workers had a top-up, and then they went on EI; now they are getting nothing. There is a lady in my riding, and both she and her husband worked at Stellantis. They have now lost their home because of this. The minister said she would get the money back or protect the jobs. She has done neither one. Why is she still minister?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The Conservatives cannot lecture us about cars. Their own car plan left out Ontario's auto parts makers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 7 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will get no lessons from the Conservatives, who presented an auto strategy that did not even include the auto parts across Ontario. They were letting down— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The Conservatives have a bad record on the auto industry, so I will not take advice from them. We are working with the company on the Brampton plant. If they do not build a new car there, we will take our money back.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will not take any lessons from the Conservatives, who presented an auto strategy that did not even include the auto parts sector, who let down the Ford engine plants across the country and across Ontario, the same as for the GM St. Catharines plant. Meanwhile, we are engaged with the company, but if it does not bring a new model back to Brampton, we will get our money back, period.

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