Premier Ford threatens lawsuit over shutdown of GM’s Ingersoll, Ont. plant

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is threatening to sue General Motors for breaking its contract after the automaker announced it would shut down its BrightDrop electric vehicle delivery plant, affecting 1,200 jobs.

According to National Observer, Ford spoke to reporters at Queens Park and expressed disappointment with GM's decision, warning the company that it must make good on its promise to find a new use for the CAMI plant.

“If they break their contract, we'll sue them, that's all,” Ford told reporters. “They know they broke the contract and we will make sure we get another car in the area.”

Ford noted that GM told him that BrightDrop vans weren't selling (I only saw one in use, so that's obvious) and that about 4,000 electric vans remained unsold.

In his press releaseGM said the electric van market is developing much more slowly than expected and demand for electric vans has fallen far short of expectations. Actually production at the factory has been running below capacity since 2022.

Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie told the Canadian National Observer the automaker's decision is devastating, saying, “1,200 families are now in a much worse situation than before.” Small note: Ingersoll has a population of approximately 13,000–14,000 people.

Petrie said the impacts will extend beyond the CAMI plant and affect restaurants, stores and suppliers in southwestern Ontario. Petrie also said he received a courtesy call from the automaker shortly before the news was made public.

The office of Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli responded to National Observer of Canada via email, saying the government has been in close contact with General Motors and Unifor since the announcement. Fedeli spokeswoman Jennifer Cunliffe said the province will use all available tools, including the C$20 million Ontario Worker Protection Program, to support affected workers.

Source: National Observer