PC Leader Ford to honour Ontario’s EV commitment, Crombie and Stiles less definitive

By Canadian Press on January 30, 2025.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said Thursday he will honour Ontario’s commitment to the burgeoning electric vehicle sector if re-elected, while his main political rivals were less definitive.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said his country does not want or need Canadian cars despite signing a free trade deal with Canada and Mexico in his first term. He has threatened 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports unless border security is improved.

Trump has also made clear he’s going after Ontario’s automotive industry, hoping to increase vehicle production at home.

Ford’s government agreed to an auto pact with the federal government in 2023 to pay one third of production incentives in deals with Volkswagen, as well as Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, for their EV battery plants.

The two governments ponied up the money in order to compete with former U.S. president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which included a tax credit for clean vehicle purchases.

Trump has frozen funding under the IRA and has threatened to end it altogether.

“Even if President Trump tears up America’s commitment to the auto industry, we will not,” Ford said at a campaign stop in London, Ont.

“I want to make it clear to every partner we have in Ontario’s electric vehicle and battery supply chain: a re-elected PC government will honour our commitment to invest in the sector.”

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said she’ll protect the auto industry, though she said she wanted to have a look at the deals with Stellantis and Volkswagen.

“I believe in the EV sector, I think this is important for the future of our own economy,” Stiles said at a campaign event in Toronto.

But she is not convinced the Stellantis and Volkswagen deals are good for Ontarians.

“Doug Ford does not make good deals for Ontario generally, and I’m going to be looking very carefully at the details of the deals that he’s he’s struck with those folks,” she said.

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said she wanted to diversify Ontario’s economy when asked whether she’d support Ontario’s EV manufacturing and supply chain market.

“I’m very concerned that the premier has put all our eggs in the EV basket, has not tried to diversify our economy, insulate us in any way, and brought different kinds of investment into Ontario and create jobs,” Crombie said at a stop in Mississauga, Ont.

Ontario voters will head to the polls Feb. 27.

— With files from Allison Jones in London and Maan Alhmidi.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2025.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press