Prime Minister Mark Carney again called this week’s sale of Stellantis’ idled Brampton assembly plant a “betrayal” of autoworkers and country.
asserted
Carney → call → autoworkers
Speaking to reporters Thursday in Dublin ahead of meetings with European leaders, Carney also said the transaction is a “partial solution” for the thousands of employees who have been on paid layoff since the end of 2023.
asserted
who → speak → 2023
“That’s the responsibility they made multiple times, including in the battery deal that they signed with the government,” Carney said.
asserted
Carney → ’ → government
“We will pursue all of this.
asserted
We → pursue → this
Meeting in Toronto over sale
The comments come as a meeting was being held in Toronto on Thursday involving Stellantis executives, Industry Minister Melanie Joly, Ontario government officials including Premier Doug Ford, and union leaders.
asserted
meeting → meet → Ford
On Monday, the company announced it came to an agreement with Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel to sell the plant for an undisclosed amount.
asserted
it → announce → amount
Meanwhile, news reports painted a different picture of how the Stellantis transaction unfolded.
asserted
transaction → paint → picture
Reports contradict government messaging
asserted
Reports → contradict → messaging
According to CTV News, government sources revealed federal officials were actively involved in discussions about the future of the plant and its eventual sale, and didn’t stand in its way.
uncertain
officials → accord → way
CBC News reported Ottawa was aware that talks to unload the property were happening as far back as August and that the Liberal government had been engaged regularly on the deal.
asserted
government → report → deal
Late Wednesday, Joly’s office told The Canadian Press that she did not meet with Roshel officials and had no part in negotiations with either company.
asserted
she → tell → company
However, CTV News reported Thursday that four top Joly aides held meetings with Roshel in August and September, and two aides met with the military vehicle manufacturer again in mid-October.
asserted
aides → report → October
Carney stood firm in his characterization of the transaction despite contradictory reports.
asserted
Carney → stand → reports
‘Partial solution’ for workers
“The issue for Stellantis is providing a global solution for the plant, so the Roshel deal is a partial solution for the thousands of workers there
asserted
deal → provide → workers
,” Carney said.
asserted
Carney → say → ?
“So, being informed or being aware of some aspects is not the same as Stellantis providing a global solution for those workers at the plant, which is their obligation.”
asserted
which → inform → plant
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also waded into the growing controversy surrounding the governments reported involvement in talks leading up to the sale.
asserted
Poilievre → wad → sale
“So one day, Mr. Carney says it’s a betrayal, the other day we find out he was involved,” Poilievre told reporters in Calgary on Thursday.
asserted
Poilievre → say → Thursday
He looked those workers in the eyes and said that he was fighting for their jobs while he went behind their backs and helped set up a deal that sold them out to the Americans.
asserted
that → look → Americans
He helped cook up the deal.
asserted
He → help → deal
Poilievre
Poilievre said, while details of the deal have not been made public, the resulting transaction is massive negligence on the part of Carney, Joly, and their teams.
asserted
transaction → say → Carney
“Did the Liberals actually have a job guarantee?
asserted
Liberals → have → guarantee
Please, please tell me they didn’t fork over hundreds of millions of Canadian tax dollars,” he said.
asserted
he → tell → dollars
“Without a job guarantee, there’s two possibilities here: one they had a job guarantee, and Mr. Carney did not impose that guarantee on the company, and let them take the money and run, or two, they gave away your money to this company without a job guarantee.”
asserted
they → ’ → guarantee
Stellantis said it is still in talks with Unifor, the union representing more than 2,000 laid off workers, to reach a settlement.
asserted
it → say → settlement
The Aporia
