‘Crickets from the province’: Calls grow for Ontario to step in as CAMI uncertainty deepens

London North Centre MPP Terrence Kernaghan is questioning why the Ford government hasn’t stepped forward to support CAMI workers. CTV’s Reta Ismail explains.

A local opposition MPP is calling on the provincial government to get more involved as workers at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll wait for answers on their uncertain future.

“It’s been almost a month. From the province, it’s been crickets,” said London North Centre NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan at Queens Park.

At Queen’s Park, pressure is building for clearer answers about the future of CAMI.

Kernaghan said protections that once supported Canadian auto workers have been chipped away, leaving thousands vulnerable as governments negotiate with GM.

“Once upon a time, there used to be good protections in place, like Auto Pact. If companies want to sell here, then they have to build here,” explained Kernaghan. “But unfortunately, we’ve seen governments erode those protections and that’s such a shame. It is a huge market for the United States to sell their vehicles here.”

Kernaghan said the province has offered no clear plan, even as uncertainty grows for CAMI’s workforce.

“Right now, the CAMI workers have been very strong. They’re saying that nothing will go in and nothing will come out of that plant. And they want the province to stand up for them,” added Kernaghan.

But the Ford government says it is at the table.

“We’re hearing right now from GM. They’re still being a little tight lipped. They’re saying they want to do something. And if they don’t want to do something, then, you know, we’re going to fill that plant one way or another,” said Premier Doug Ford. “And we’ve been working with the federal government on building military vehicles there as well. So, there’s a couple options on the on the table.”

In a statement to CTV News, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Victor Fedeli’s spokesperson said, “Our legal team remains in close contact with GM and our labour partners to ensure that our agreements are respected and enforced … If these commitments are not honoured, funding must be returned.”

Still, Kernaghan said the lack of concrete information is putting enormous pressure on workers and their families.

“It’s really deeply distressing that we see 1,200 workers who are concerned about their families, about their future, about their ability to bring home a paycheck, put food on the table and, you know, pay all of their bills,” said Kernaghan.

In an update to members Monday, Unifor Local 88 Plant Chair Mike Van Boekel said, “We are trying to give our members some options going forward. We want to be clear that our main goal is to try and retain the plant and push GM to consider the short term and long-term future of our plant.

CAMI workers say they’ll continue to hold the line until they get answers.

GM has since provided a statement to CTV News.