Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to introduce a new model at its dormant Brampton, Ontario assembly plant following the automaker’s signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a potential sale. Stellantis disclosed last Friday that it had entered into an MOU with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel concerning the potential sale of the Brampton facility.
During a press briefing in Toronto on Wednesday, Joly assured that Canadian workers’ interests would be safeguarded in the event of the plant’s sale to another entity. However, she emphasized the government’s expectation for additional commitments from Stellantis. “We are adamant about securing a new model from Stellantis for the Brampton plant, and we will exert maximum pressure for this outcome. If not, we will seek reimbursement,” Joly stated.
Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the necessity for a fresh model to be produced at the plant. “We have some of the finest auto workers globally, and we believe a new model should be introduced there,” Ford affirmed. Stellantis, which employs over 11,000 individuals in Ontario, is vital to the province’s industrial landscape, and Ford expressed the desire to build upon this foundation.
The fate of the Brampton plant has been uncertain since its closure in 2023 for retooling for Jeep Compass production, a plan that was subsequently halted in early 2025 by Stellantis. The decision to relocate Jeep Compass production to the U.S. sparked strong opposition from the federal government, threatening legal action unless Stellantis honored its commitments under agreements with the federal and provincial governments.
The impending sale of the plant, as indicated by the MOU with Roshel, has raised concerns among Unifor, the union representing plant workers. Talks between the automaker and the union have reached an impasse as the current collective agreement nears its expiration on September 20. Unifor National President Lana Payne conveyed apprehensions about the potential impact on over 2,000 workers in a letter to Joly, urging the federal government to intervene to prevent adverse outcomes.
Payne asserted, “The proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker should not have been entertained and must be fiercely opposed by the federal government.” The situation remains fluid, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments amid ongoing negotiations and uncertainties surrounding the future of the Brampton assembly plant.