Hundreds of workers from General Motors gathered outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, demanding the company to secure a new vehicle for production at the facility. Represented by Unifor Local 88, the employees are seeking clarity following the recent announcement that the CAMI plant would no longer be involved in the BrightDrop electric delivery van project. A similar demonstration was taking place in Brampton at the time of the Ingersoll rally.
The protest actions at the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI plant were initiated after Stellantis revealed plans to move the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the U.S. and GM announced the cancellation of the BrightDrop program at CAMI. In Ingersoll, around 1,200 workers were suddenly left jobless in a region heavily reliant on the automotive industry.
GM attributed the decision to end the BrightDrop program to market demand and poor van sales, denying any connection to U.S. tariffs. However, many workers at the rally expressed skepticism, believing that political factors in the U.S. influenced the company’s choice to discontinue operations at the recently established facility.
GM stated through its Canadian president that efforts are underway to identify new opportunities for the CAMI plant, emphasizing the long history of vehicle production in Ingersoll. Despite ongoing operations in Oshawa and St. Catharines, as well as the construction of a new battery-materials facility in Bécancour, Quebec, the closure of the BrightDrop project after a significant public investment raised concerns.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the formation of a group, including the union and Ontario representatives, to advocate for new production at the plant. Joly set a deadline of 15 days for GM to outline plans for affected employees. Workers at the rally expressed a strong desire for a new product line to sustain operations and preserve jobs at the CAMI plant.
Union leader Mike Van Boekel supported the deadline as a means to prompt GM to disclose its vision for the future of CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll. He emphasized the need for swift action and clear plans from the company to address the uncertainties surrounding the plant’s fate.