In a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, a Stellantis executive faced tough questioning regarding the assurance of maintaining Canadian auto jobs in conjunction with substantial subsidy agreements made with the federal government in recent times, despite official government claims. Jeff Hines, the former president of Stellantis Canada, emphasized the company’s dedication to the Canadian automotive industry but refrained from directly addressing the inclusion of job protection clauses in past agreements.
While addressing a House of Commons committee, Hines expressed, “We are committed to our employees in Brampton, our employees in Canada. The specifics of the agreements, some of which are confidential, but we remain steadfast in preserving the Canadian workforce.”
The scrutiny follows severe criticism of Stellantis for relocating the production of the Jeep Compass from Brampton, Ontario, to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, leaving workers uncertain about their future. Hines recently assumed the role of head of North America fleet solutions at Stellantis and was previously the company’s president for Canada.
Highlighting the company’s investment of $8.6 billion in Canada since 2022, Hines mentioned plans for further expansion in the country, including the hiring of 1,500 employees in Windsor, Ontario. However, he also cited economic and trade uncertainties as factors influencing the company’s future decisions.
Appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, Hines participated in an emergency study on the automotive sector and the federal government’s financial agreements with Stellantis following the developments at the Brampton plant. Stellantis confirmed its intentions for the Brampton facility, which employed approximately 3,000 workers before its temporary shutdown for retooling.
Regarding the Windsor Assembly Plant, Hines affirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining its presence in the area, expressing enthusiasm for the planned expansion to a third shift. He noted that the NextStar EV Battery Plant in Windsor has already employed 1,000 individuals out of the anticipated 2,500 positions.
The committee was also scheduled to receive input from Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, and representatives from Unifor, the union representing workers at Stellantis and other major automakers in Canada.