The union representing Canadian workers at Stellantis is appealing for intervention from the federal government amid reports of Stellantis' plans to sell its idled assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to Roshel, a Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer. In a letter addressed to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Unifor national president Lana Payne articulated concerns that such a sale would permanently halt vehicle production at the plant, resulting in the loss of over 2,000 jobs and negatively impacting local suppliers employing thousands of additional workers.
Payne stressed the uniqueness of the jobs at the Brampton facility, stating, “There is no comparable economic replacement for this work. Canada's economy will be worse-off as a result.” She urged the federal government to take all possible actions to avert this scenario. Stellantis had previously announced their intention to sell the plant on September 15, 2026, having signed a memorandum of understanding with Roshel regarding this potential transaction. This issue remains significant amidst collective bargaining negotiations between Unifor and Stellantis that began in early September 2026.
On September 15, Unifor indicated that it had set an internal deadline for reaching a tentative agreement but encountered an impasse with Stellantis. The existing collective agreement is set to expire on September 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The Brampton plant ceased operations in 2023, leading to an unemployment crisis among workers. Unifor disclosed receiving prior notice regarding Stellantis’ contemplation of the plant’s closure and potential sale. The facility had been previously earmarked for retooling for Jeep production, commencing in early 2024, but plans were paused in early 2025 when Jeep Compass production was moved to the U.S.
This decision by Stellantis has been characterized as a breach of the current collective agreement by the union, which claims that the plant was left idled without a timely resolution. Payne also highlighted in her correspondence with Minister Joly that Stellantis had publicly committed to further discussions with the Canadian government regarding the Brampton plant after relocating Jeep production. She requested clarification on Ottawa’s role in discussions surrounding the proposed sale and whether the memorandum of understanding contradicted Stellantis’ earlier commitments.
During a media interaction in Toronto, Minister Joly encouraged continued negotiations between Unifor and Stellantis, acknowledging that these discussions had been “difficult and bumpy.” She assured Canadian workers that any potential sale of the plant would be scrutinized to ensure their protection. Joly stated, “At the end of the day, we want a new model from Stellantis at the Stellantis plant, and we’ll put maximum pressure to make that happen. If they don’t, we’ll get our money back.”
Payne has expressed concerns that the recent developments have complicated the path towards a new collective agreement, deeming the potential sale of the Brampton plant as a “disaster scenario” for both the Canadian auto industry and the wider industrial economy. She strongly opposed Stellantis' proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker, emphasizing that it should face substantial scrutiny from the federal government.
Stellantis has yet to reply to requests for comments on the situation. Trevor Longley, Stellantis Canada chairman, president, and CEO, stated last week that the company had explored several options for the facility and believed that partnering with Roshel would provide a sustainable operational path while preserving the plant’s manufacturing capabilities.
Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, indicated that the company aims to establish a Canadian Centre of Excellence for Defence Manufacturing at the Brampton location, alongside its existing automotive production. He assured that Roshel is ready to consider laid-off Unifor workers and plans to reintegrate them as early as 2026 through federal programs targeted at Light Utility Vehicles and other automotive and defense opportunities.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed Minister Joly's sentiments on the necessity for a “new model” for the Brampton plant. He clarified that while the province has not provided any funding to Stellantis for the facility, there is an interest in collaborative efforts moving forward. This situation continues to develop with significant implications for workers and the Canadian automotive industry.
