A top Stellantis official faced tough questions from lawmakers on Wednesday regarding whether major subsidy agreements with the Canadian government included specific commitments to preserve Canadian automotive jobs, as government representatives have repeatedly asserted.
During his appearance before a House of Commons committee, Jeff Hines, the former head of Stellantis Canada, emphasized the company’s dedication to the Canadian auto industry. However, he avoided directly confirming whether previous deals contained provisions to safeguard existing positions.
“We are dedicated to our workforce in Brampton, our Canadian employees,” Hines stated. “While specifics of past agreements may remain confidential, our commitment to upholding the Canadian workforce is unwavering.”
Hines’ testimony comes amid significant backlash following Stellantis’ decision to relocate production of the Jeep Compass from Brampton, Ontario, to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, leaving Brampton workers uncertain about their future.
Recently appointed as the head of North America fleet solutions at Stellantis, Hines highlighted the company’s substantial investments in Canada, totaling $8.6 billion since 2022. He expressed the company’s intent to further expand operations in Canada but pointed out economic and trade uncertainties as potential challenges for their future endeavors.
Appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, Hines participated in an emergency study focused on the automotive sector and the federal government’s financial agreements with Stellantis, particularly in light of developments concerning the Brampton plant.
Stellantis, known for brands such as Dodge and Chrysler, employs approximately 9,000 workers in Canada and plans to hire an additional 1,500 employees in Windsor, Ontario, a key automotive hub.
While the company reassures its commitment to the Brampton facility, which temporarily ceased operations for retooling, Hines mentioned that various options are under consideration for the future of the plant, with the final decision pending economic conditions.
Acknowledging external factors like U.S. tariffs, Hines emphasized that the company is exploring solutions to ensure long-term stability for affected workers, including offering transfer opportunities.
In response to government claims of Stellantis committing to maintain its Canadian presence, including the Brampton and Windsor plants, as part of a substantial federal-provincial deal, an analysis by CBC News found no explicit guarantee in the unredacted sections of the document.
During the committee session, Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore MP Kathy Borrelli inquired about Stellantis’ plans for the Windsor Assembly Plant and the broader Windsor region, where thousands rely on the automotive sector for livelihood. Hines affirmed the company’s intention to sustain operations in Windsor and expressed optimism about future expansions, including the NextStar EV Battery Plant’s ongoing recruitment efforts.
The committee also anticipated testimony from leaders of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and Unifor, the union representing Stellantis and other major automakers’ workers in Canada.
