Dear Neighbours,
The manufacturing industry isn’t what it used to be—nor should it be.
As a province, we should be moving forward; we should be an example for the world to follow; but we shouldn’t be leaving people behind.
Last week, General Motors announced its plan to hire new engineers and boost its research and development activities in Canada. Make no mistake; this is a good news announcement.
It’s an important step forward for the auto industry, and I’m encouraged by General Motors’ continued commitment to Oshawa, but families in our community remain uncertain about their future.
Without a new product mandate from GM to protect the 2,500 jobs at the assembly plants and the thousands of spinoff jobs across our community, we are left with more questions than answers.
Oshawa has been a leader in the automotive industry for decades, and as we continue to grow as an innovation hub, we must also ensure that the families that built GM are not left behind.
The workers at GM Oshawa have invested millions of dollars back into our community, and their efforts have contributed billions of dollars to the Canadian economy.
The auto sector is the backbone of our community, and it has provided Oshawa families with a stable pay cheque, created thousands of spinoff jobs, and sustained our local economy for decades.
Quite simply, this affects our entire community.
We have never felt more uncertainty about the future of General Motors in Oshawa than we do now, and families in our community deserve to know what the future will hold.
It is time for the provincial government to work with GM and fight for our community. It is time for GM to commit to Oshawa with a new product announcement. Our community has earned it.
Oshawa is and always will be the Motor City, and that is thanks to the efforts of generations of autoworkers in our community. Hard work shouldn’t go unnoticed and it shouldn’t be forgotten.
Following last week’s announcement, we now know that the cars of the future will be developed in Oshawa; let’s make sure they are built in Oshawa, too.
Sincerely,
Jennifer French
MPP Oshawa