Harper Government Celebrates Completion of Ford Oakville Assembly Plant Transformation

Government investment helps Ford deliver one of its most sophisticated auto manufacturing plants in the world and supports about 4,500 jobs in southern Ontario
February 26, 2015 – Oakville, Ontario – Industry Canada
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Halton, and Terence Young, Member of Parliament for Oakville, were at Ford Motor Company of Canada today for its launch of production of the all-new 2015 Ford Edge. The crossover vehicle will be manufactured on a new flexible platform at the company’s Oakville facility, which employs about 4,500 people, and exported globally.
The Harper Government provided a $71.6-million repayable contribution under the Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF) in 2013 to support the transformation of Ford’s Oakville assembly plant into a state-of-the-art global manufacturing facility. The new flexible platform will enable Ford to innovate, compete and quickly adjust to changing market conditions.
The Harper Government’s contribution helped leverage a $716-million investment from the company in southern Ontario, securing Ford’s global manufacturing footprint in Canada. Ford’s investment is part of a planned investment of up to $1.1 billion over 10 years in its Oakville Assembly Complex.
Quick facts
• Funding for the project to modernize Ford’s Oakville facility was provided through the Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF). To date, AIF investments have leveraged up to $2.77 billion for R&D and innovation in Canada.
• The government’s contribution has helped provide Ford with the flexibility to produce 11 of its high-volume mid-sized vehicles on one platform in Oakville. The company’s investment represented a long-term commitment to building cars, creating jobs and advancing innovation in Canada and to fostering Canadian excellence in auto manufacturing.
• Canada’s automotive industry is a key sector of the economy. It contributes 10 percent of the country’s manufacturing GDP and 13 percent of total merchandise exports. The industry employs more than 117,000 Canadians directly and another 377,000 indirectly.
• Canada’s manufacturing sales have bounced back and are up more than 25 percent since the recession.
• According to the latest available Statistics Canada data, motor vehicles and parts exports increased by 8.8 percent in 2014 to $65.2 billion, up from $59.9 billion in 2013.
• Overall, Canadian exports were up 10.0 percent in 2014, and Canada posted its largest trade surplus in six years at $13.3 billion.
• This trade surplus was driven by surging auto exports in July 2014, which saw a 9.7-percent increase in motor vehicle and parts exports and a 10.2-percent increase in passenger car exports. This was the biggest one-month advance in eight months.
• Economic Action Plan 2014 provided an additional $500 million to the Automotive Innovation Fund to support significant new strategic R&D projects and long-term investments in the Canadian automotive sector.
• A key part of supporting manufacturers is ensuring that they have global markets for the goods they produce. The government has concluded seven different free trade pacts with 38 countries. It has also concluded or implemented foreign investment promotion and protection agreements with 22 countries and continues to deepen trade ties with the largest, most dynamic markets in the world.
• Canada’s two most recent trade agreements, the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement, promise to add at least $14 billion annually in new economic activity, equivalent to creating more than 90,000 new jobs.
• Since 2006, Canada has gone from having free trade agreements with only 5 countries to now having free trade agreements in force, or being finalized, with 43 countries around the world.
Quotes
“Our government has kept taxes low and promoted trade abroad and skills training at home—all of which are necessary conditions for creating jobs and economic growth. As today’s event demonstrates, Canada’s automotive industry continues to attract investment. As a result, Canada remains a leading nation for automotive manufacturing.”
– Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport
“Our government is committed to strengthening our manufacturing sector and creating jobs for Canadian families. Today’s new Ford Edge production launch proves that our highly skilled workforce, low taxes and open markets make Canada one of the best places in the world to build cars.”
– James Moore, Minister of Industry
“Thanks to the support of the Harper Government, Ford will have a presence in Oakville for a long time to come. Our government is serious about creating jobs and opportunities for auto manufacturing in Canada.”
– Terence Young, Member of Parliament for Oakville
“We’re proud to show the world advanced manufacturing right here in Canada and look forward to serving new global customers. The Oakville assembly team has worked relentlessly to deliver a quality product to the highest standard—from bringing in the best of Ford’s manufacturing technologies to training new employees across the facility.”
– Dianne Craig, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd.