Ontario Premier Doug Ford
As some U.S. politicians try to capitalize on the recent Canada-U.S. border blockades to claim Canada isn’t a reliable manufacturing location, Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushed back by restating that Ontario remains a great place to do business. In a statement to Canadian auto dealer, the Premier said: “I would like to reiterate again, to every single business out there from around the world that wants to know if we have a safe and secure area to invest. The answer is ‘yes’ and we will always make sure that Ontario remains one of the best places for businesses to invest, grow and prosper.”
During the blockades and in the period following them, U.S. politicians, notably Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin cranked up the anti-Canada rhetoric. Slokin’s tweet raised eyebrows from auto industry leaders north of the border: “It doesn’t matter if it’s an adversary or an ally — we can’t be this reliant on parts coming from foreign countries.”
The underlying objectives from U.S. politicians are obvious: set up shop in our backyard—not in Ontario. “The one thing that couldn’t be more clear is that we have to bring American manufacturing back home to states like Michigan. If we don’t, it’s American workers like the folks at Delta Township who are left holding the bag,” said Slotkin.
Slotkin wasn’t alone in capitalizing on the frustration many in the auto industry on both sides of the border felt when the blockades disrupted the auto supply chain and forced plant closures.
In his statement, Premier Ford called the illegal blockade “totally unacceptable” and reinforced that Ontario is open for business. Ford wrote that he declared a state of emergency in Ontario, and enacted orders that make it crystal clear that it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure in Ontario.
“Blocking billions of dollars of trade, putting hundreds of thousands of jobs on the line, and disrupting the lives of everyday workers could not continue for a moment longer. About a quarter of the trade between Canada and the United States comes by way of the Ambassador Bridge, and over $300 million worth of goods crosses it each and every day. I am so grateful to the Windsor Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and all other police services that brought the illegal blockade to a peaceful end,” said Ford.
Canadian auto industry leaders have been battling to preserve auto manufacturing and assembly in Canada, and are trying to compete for a share of the global investments in making next generation vehicles like battery electric and autonomous vehicles. Being tarnished as an unreliable location for manufacturing couldn’t have come at a worse time for the industry.
