Ontario Economic Minister Affirms Involvement of Foreign Workers in Establishment of New Honda Plants
Ontario has confirmed that foreign workers will be involved in setting up the four proposed Honda electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants in the province.
Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli mentioned that “short-term technical experts” would be brought in to install equipment at the plants and train Ontarians.
“You need those technical experts,” Mr. Fedeli stated on “Rosemary Barton Live” on April 28.
He explained that these experts would help install equipment and train hundreds and eventually thousands of employees on how to use the equipment before returning, emphasizing their short-term role.
The province is ensuring that the four Honda plants hire Ontario workers, although the federal Conservatives are questioning the use of taxpayer dollars to fund foreign employees.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Ottawa’s $2.5 billion investment in the Honda deal through the EV Supply Chain investment tax credit and the proposed Clean Technology Manufacturing investment tax credit. Additionally, Ontario will invest $2.5 billion through direct and indirect incentives.
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Honda is preparing to construct a battery plant next to its assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario, for fully electric vehicle production as part of the $15 billion project.
Tory MP and industry critic Rick Perkins mentioned a motion to the Government Operations Committee to disclose Canadian taxpayer dollars being used to hire foreign workers. This concern arises from the South Korea workers brought in to set up the NextStar Energy electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor.
