Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Friend of automotive.
Raise your hand if you ever thought those words would be written and ring true.
It was only four years ago that former Unifor President Jerry Dias exclaimed, “You know, Doug, f--- you!” during a televised speech in which the fiery union boss was wound up about General Motors’ decision to wind down production at Oshawa Assembly, and Ford’s response that “the ship has already left the dock.”
It wasn’t long ago Ford was being pilloried for pulling the plug on the province’s electric-vehicle rebate. But my how the tables have turned. Dias — before he retired in the midst of a scandal — later joined the Premier’s Council on U.S. Trade and Industry Competitiveness. Strange bedfellows, indeed.
And then in March, Ford began handing automakers money as if he owed it to them. First, $131.6 million to back Honda’s $1.4-billion retooling of its Ontario factories.
Then, an undisclosed amount — likely $500 million — to Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, which together will build a $5-billion EV battery factory in Windsor, Ont. An NDP and Liberal stronghold, by the way.
Ford followed that with a $259-million contribution to GM so it can retool plants, add a shift and upgrade R&D in Ontario.
Oh, and did I mention that in 2020 he pledged $250 million to help Ford Motor Co. retool its Oakville Assembly Plant to build EVs?
According to my abacas, that’s $1.14 billion — with a “B” — in government money, and countless jobs.
But Ford didn’t stop there this spring. No, sir.
He launched the Digital Dealership Registration (DDR) program, which allows 7,000 newand used-vehicle dealers to issue vehicle registrations and licence plates directly to customers. That is expected to reduce the administrative burden and save costs and time.
The Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA), which represents more than 1,000 franchised new-vehicle dealerships, called the program “the most important policy announcement made by the Ontario government in a generation.”
It’s something I called on the Liberals to enact in this very space ... five years ago.
And Ford still wasn’t done as of March. The province is spending $91 million to help make EV chargers more accessible to the public across the province, from rest stops to carpool lots, parks and hockey rinks.
Ontario will also introduce the Rural Connectivity Fund to provide funding to support the installation of EV chargers in rural municipalities.
Forgive me if I missed anything, but maybe that’s a good thing. I only have about 450 words of space, after all.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Friend of automotive.
