Industry Minister Anita Anand sought to reassure Canadians. She further underscored that American automakers do not yet have any concrete moves to bring their supply chains back to the U.S. She made that point recently while stressing that talks continue with large U.S. manufacturers. Their pledge to keeping production in Canada is a big part of that.
Anand commits to working in good faith with labor leaders. She works with major industry players to ensure the auto sector remains strong in Canada. She holds no-nonsense discussions with major players such as Ford and General Motors. Her mandate is to develop just long-term sustainability plans that support the companies and Canadian workers.
On Tuesday, Anand’s also expected to make a stop in Windsor, Ontario, where she’s expected to meet with more auto industry executives. We hope this meeting will focus on concerns that have risen due to recent production difficulties and tariffs hurting the industry.
Even if the remission framework is not yet finalized and released, Anand assured us that the government is working “very hard” on developing this framework. They are looking to supply a more supportive home for automakers. She repeated her argument that U.S. tariffs were primarily responsible for ending production at Stellantis’ Windsor auto plant. This unfortunate crossroads highlights how trade policy and manufacturing health go hand-in-hand.
Anand’s comments reflect a growing optimism about the future of the Canadian auto industry. She was making a case, she claimed, because they actually do want to stay in Canada. And finally, she called attention to how important manufacturing still is to our nation’s economy and employment picture.
The Government is showing very clear support to drive the industry forward. In fact, they’ve allocated $2 billion to building a made-in-Canada auto industry. Anand reiterated that the federal government is extending help to workers—both through direct support and by easing Employment Insurance (EI) program access.
Anand’s constituency of Oakville East is home to a Ford assembly plant that employs thousands of skilled workers. She is currently fighting a dogged campaign for re-election—passionately campaigning under the Liberal banner. Her second priority, the stability of the auto sector, has proven more elusive. She highlighted the breadth of Canada’s auto industry and its long history in the country. We’re deeply committed to making sure that automakers don’t stop winning here.
Congressman Anand was quick to clarify that the federal government is not retaliating with counter tariffs against imported auto parts. Rather, it seeks to encourage a positive collaboration with U.S. manufacturers and preserve Canadian jobs.
As she prepares for her trip to Windsor, Anand’s ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders reflects a strong commitment to ensuring the Canadian auto sector not only survives but thrives amid changing economic conditions.
