The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and of the Official Opposition, Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa, Philip Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South, and Jamie Schmale, Member of Parliament for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, today issued the following statement on the restarting of production at GM Oshawa Assembly:
“Today’s announcement is welcomed positive news for our community, especially since COVID-19 and the economic hardships it has brought. This breathes new hope into the Oshawa Assembly Plant and the workers that were forced to leave that line last winter.
“The past several years have been exceptionally difficult times for Oshawa’s autoworkers. They deserve credit for their patience, commitment, and resilience. Like so many in the region, we all know someone who has worked on the line at GM. This means so much to families in Oshawa and the Durham region.
“We would like to thank the bargaining teams at UNIFOR Local 222 and General Motors, who have helped secure production for Oshawa – a community with the potential to build the best trucks in the market, at an unmatched quality.
“With this news, the Durham region will be a leader in our economic recovery as we get Canadians back to work. This is not only a win for our community, but for our entire province. GM’s planned investment in the Oshawa Assembly will mean up to 2,500 families in the region will once again be able to have financial security for their families, put food on the
table, and a roof over their heads.
“With pickup trucks being the largest automotive market segment in Canada and North America, their demand is higher than ever and Oshawa’s autoworkers are ready to meet the demand.
“As GM and UNIFOR have come to a tentative agreement, we wish both parties the best in the upcoming ratification vote this Sunday.
“As this news develops, we will continue to hold the federal government accountable to ensure GM gets the support it needs to make this a reality and bring Oshawa’s Assembly back to work. Families in the Durham region have produced vehicles for 100 years, and we want to be sure that we do so for another 100.”