Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that selling the idled Stellantis auto plant in Brampton, Ont., is a betrayal of the workers there. He made the remarks in Dublin, Ireland, while attending a European Political Community meeting. Carney said he had been aware of some aspects of the plan to sell the facility to Canadian armoured vehicle maker Roshel Inc. before it was announced this week. He clarified that being informed is not the same as Stellantis providing a full solution for the plant's employees, which he called the company's obligation.
The prime minister said the sale represents only a partial solution for some of the more than 2,000 workers who lost their jobs when the plant idled in 2023. "We will pursue all of this. A partial solution is a step, it is not a global solution. That is a betrayal," Carney said. He did not specify how long he had known about the deal or what details he was aware of. Stellantis and Roshel signed a memorandum of understanding regarding a potential sale in September.
Carney's comments follow reports that his office and that of Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had known the details of the impending announcement for months. A spokesperson for Joly said Wednesday that she "had no part in negotiating the deal with Stellantis or Roshel" and did not meet with Roshel. When the sale was announced, Carney called the situation "unacceptable." He said it violates Stellantis's obligations under several agreements and is "a betrayal of the workers, as it is a betrayal of the obligations to Canada and by extension to all Canadians."
The company halted operations at the Brampton plant in 2023 to retool it for Jeep Compass production, but paused that plan in early 2025. It later decided to build the vehicle in Illinois instead. Stellantis announced the sale to Roshel on Monday, a deal that could include leasing back some of the property. About 1,800 workers from the plant remain on layoff, continuing to receive 70 per cent of their pay and benefits. In a statement Tuesday, Stellantis said it would voluntarily repay government subsidies, amounting to at least $220 million so far, and would work with the union toward a fair outcome for workers. Unifor, the union representing the plant's employees, has demanded a meeting of all stakeholders. Joly will attend that meeting in Toronto on Thursday on behalf of the federal government to seek a path forward for the laid-off workers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote to Carney on Tuesday warning against the plant being used to assemble "Chinese-made knock-down kits." Asked about that possibility, Carney did not address kit-cars specifically, saying his government wants real opportunity for autoworkers with existing partners. He said Chinese investment in Canada's auto sector remains possible. "The extent to which there's Chinese investment depends on a variety of factors. It will be one of the discussions with [Chinese] President Xi," Carney said. The prime minister is scheduled to meet privately with Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18 and 19.
