October 18th, 2021

FACT CHECK: Doug Ford’s history of saying no to electric auto industry

WINDSOR — Premier Doug Ford has actively undermined the zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) industry in Ontario. After failing to announce any concrete plans Monday to save 1,800 auto jobs at Stallantis in Windsor, his record will have to speak for itself:

  • Ford launched a war on the environment, which could lock Ontario out of the auto industry of the future.
  • Ford cancelled all incentives for buying an electric vehicle, which caused sales to plummet by 50 per cent.
  • Ford paid to have Ontario’s electric vehicle charging stations ripped right out of the ground.
  • Ford failed to take action when Stellantis cut its third shift in 2020, costing 1,500 jobs, when Nemak closed that same year, costing 270 jobs, and literally refused to take action when GM took more than 2,300 jobs away of Oshawa.

“Right now, 1,800 jobs critical to our community are on the line,” said Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky. “Not to mention the thousands of spin-off jobs in the community that rely on Stellantis and its workers. We need a government that’s focused on building the next-generation of cars and trucks, like zero-emission vehicles, right here in Ontario. Doug Ford’s actions have spoken louder than his words for years. The NDP will never give up on these auto jobs, and this time, we need Doug Ford to stop undermining the auto manufacturing of the future, and start investing in Windsor.”