New Democrats take Liberal government to task on GM layoffs

Today Niagara Falls MPP and NDP Transportation critic Wayne Gates continued to press the Liberal government to support automotive workers and their families by addressing the CAMI strike in Ingersoll—which has now caused 435 auto workers in Niagara to be laid off. 

“Over 3,000 CAMI auto workers have been on strike in Ingersoll for two weeks,” said Gates. “These workers are striking because they need GM to commit to keep building the Equinox here in Ontario.”

The strike at the CAMI automotive plant in Ingersoll has caused a backlog in the supply chain, resulting in 255 employees at GM in St. Catharines and 180 employees at SpencerARL in Niagara Falls to be laid off, beginning this week.

“The workers are fighting back and trying to keep these jobs in Ontario – not just for themselves but for their children and grandchildren. They’re trying to protect thousands of jobs all over Niagara and across Ontario,” said Gates. “If this government had an auto strategy you’d realize that if those CAMI jobs get shipped away so do thousands of jobs across Ontario.”

“The workers are fighting to keeps jobs here in Ontario - why isn’t this government fighting along with them?” asked Gates.

The Liberal government proceeded to give themselves a standing ovation during their response, as 3,000 employees are on strike at the CAMI Ingersoll automotive plant and another 1,000 plus workers across the automotive sector are laid off.