Ottawa hints at financial plant to keep Oakville car plant operating

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Published September 21, 2020 at 4:47 pm

ford

With a strike mandate looming at midnight, reports out of Ottawa indicate the federal government may be offering a huge financial incentive to keep the Ford Assembly Plant operating.

Stories indicate the government has $500 million on the table for the auto manufacturer to begin production on an electric vehicle at the Oakville facility.

The news comes in the midst of negations between the auto giant and Unifor, the union representation 6,300 workers at the plant. Many of the workers live in the Clarkson area of Mississauga.

One of the main issues at the bargaining table is the future of the plant as it winds down production of the Edge in 2023 with no plans announced for future manufacturing. The strike deadline is midnight tonight.

Union leadership has been pushing Ford to bring an electric vehicle to Oakville, but has not heard directly from the government about the offer.

The developments come days before the federal Liberal government delivers a Throne Speech that is expected to focus on sustainability and the environment and highlight the need for more electric vehicles in Canada.

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