Over recent months, Canadian governments have announced hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in the electric vehicle sector. Ottawa says electric vehicle rebates for consumers would continue. There's also been money for vehicle production at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, east of Toronto.
The latest investment is to help the retooling of the Stellantis Windsor assembly plant.
The first big announcement came in March, when the federal and Ontario governments announced details of a $4 billion joint venture with Stellantis and LG Energy Solution. It’s to build the first Lithium-Ion battery production plant in Canada.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said construction of the plant in Windsor will begin almost immediately, and when operations are up and running by 2024, it will provide up to 3,000 jobs.
“This is the largest automotive manufacturing investment in the history of our province," Ford said. "This game-changing battery plant will help guarantee that Ontario is at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution and ensure we remain a global leader in auto manufacturing.”
Rakesh Naidu is the president of the Windsor Essex Reigonal chamber of commerce. He said it’s a development many in the area have been dreaming of for a very long time.
“We deserve it," Naidu said. "I don’t think there’s any other place in Canada which is better suited to make this happen, better suited to land this kind of investment. We are the auto capital of Canada and now we’ve proved it again that we will take the Canadian auto sector to the next level right here.”
Ottawa and Ontario each also announced more than $250 million for the General Motors plant in Oshawa and its CAMI facility at Ingersoll. Ingersoll will be the first full-scale electric production facility in Canada.
And in the latest move in the shift to green came with the recent multi-billion-dollar announcement to retool the Windsor Assembly Plant and build two new research and development centers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand for that announcement
“The hard work that Windsorites have put into building their community, building their future, has defined you and today it’s really been recognized and is significantly paying off,” Trudeau said.
Ford was also quick to take credit, especially as he goes before voters for a provincial election in June.
“It’s a plan that will see Ontario retake its rightful position as North America’s leader in automotive manufacturing as it was for more than 100 years,” he said.
Stellantis will also build two new research and development centers focusing on electric vehicles and EV battery technology.
The mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkins, had high praise for the recent investments in the EV sector, saying the dividends to his city will continue for decades. The regional Environment Council said the building of clean electric vehicles, while protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gases, will make Canada a world leader in the transformative vehicle manufacturing for generations to come.