GM Canada’s new investment will save 300 jobs.

Courtesy of General Motors Canada.

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By: Farah Chandani | OTH News | Posted: May 8, 2019 09:45 pm

General Motors Canada has announced a large investment towards the Oshawa, Ontario plant. The company will invest $170 million, which can potentially save 300 of 2600 union jobs at the facility.

GM Canada will also be transitioning the Oshawa site from manufacturing vehicles, to sub-assembling, stamping and autonomous vehicle testing.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Francis Wallace. Toronto Star. GM Canada president Travis Hester, on the left, and Unifor national president Jerry Dias, on the right, shaking hands after the news conference held in Toronto on Wednesday May 8th, 2019.

President of General Motors Travis Hester and the Unifor national president Jerry Dias met earlier Wednesday morning in Toronto to make the announcement in a news conference. Hester believes the plant he’s investing in will have the potential to grow and attract more jobs as the facility will bring new customers.

GM President Hester also noted the Oshawa facility will still follow through with their original plans, and will terminate the production of vehicles at the end of 2019.

However, 22 hectares of the site will be converted into a test track for autonomous and advanced vehicles.

General Motors and Unifor stated the company will be offering relocations to other facilities in Ontario for those affected, and employees eligible, can benefit with “enhanced retirement packages.” It will also create a jobs action centre in June, to help employees plan for the future.

Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of economic development, job creation, and trade, gave a brief statement on Wednesday, saying this would be good news for the Durham region.

With the province’s rapid re-employment training service, it will provide support to workers who have been affected with the job loss.