Investment in Oakville’s Ford plant

Ford has announced it’s investing $700 million into its Oakville assembly plant with the promise that it will secure 2,800 jobs. But Ford isn’t going it alone; the province and the federal government have promised to chip in too. Melissa Raftis has the details.

The $71.6 million in federal funding is part of the $250 million Automotive Innovation Fund the government renewed earlier this year. The province is pledging another $70.9 million. One expert says taxpayer dollars may be part of what it takes to compete and keep these kinds of manufacturing jobs in Ontario.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford Executive V.P.: “Ford is investing 700 million dollars in this facility to bring a global platform to Oakville.”

For those who work in the Oakville Assembly Plant, it’s news worth celebrating.

Carrie Germon, 15-year employee: “I have two little girls, so knowing now that our future is secure here is very good, very overwhelming a little bit.”

The company is promising the move will secure 2,800 jobs.

Q: “Will this eventually mean job growth? When can we expect that?” Dianne Craig, CEO of Ford Canada: “At this point, it’s 28-hundred, we’re not seeing job growth. We’ll see what the future brings.”

But McMaster University Political Science Professor Peter Graefe says that’s the reality of manufacturing: “At the end of the day for most Ontarians, it’s a positive that there are important jobs remaining in their communities and a capacity for Canadians to build cars.”

The plant currently manufactures the Ford Edge and Flex, the Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKT. The company says with this new investment the company says they’ll be able to bring several new global models to Oakville.

Provincial and federal taxpayer dollars will help to upgrade the facility to allow the plant to more efficiently switch production of models.

Peter Graefe: “We’re seeing a situation where the next generation of investments by the big three which will determine where the jobs are in the next decade, and so governments across North America are trying to make their case.”

Graefe says unions like Unifor are helping as well by making themselves more flexible than in the past. But he also says you can’t discount 60 years of experience: “People know how to make cars in Oakville and that’s a selling point.”

Ford officials say the investment will mean Ford’s spending on Canadian made auto parts will increase by about $200 million to a total of nearly $4 billion annually.