The Government of Canada has committed to making Canada a world-leading centre for innovation and a top destination for businesses to invest, to help create good, well-paying jobs that will strengthen the middle-class.
Today, in Windsor, Ontario, Prime Minister Trudeau announced an investment of $102.4 million to Ford Motor Company of Canada. The Government of Ontario will match federal funding in support of this project. These investments will attract an additional $1 billion in research and development spending from Ford of Canada and lead to the creation and maintenance of almost 800 middle-class jobs for Canadian workers.
This funding will also help to establish new Connectivity and Innovation Centres (CIC) across Ontario, including here in Oakville. These centres will focus on four key projects: connectivity, mobility, data analytics and customer experience.
This CIC will also develop pioneering hardware and software solutions for our next generation vehicles along with products and services which will be available through cloud computing. This centre will also serve as the basis for mobility applications such as ride sharing, ride hailing, and multi-modal transportation, which could reduce the collective carbon footprint of the automotive industry.
I was proud to be present for an announcement that demonstrates our Government’s commitment to the automotive sector and our commitment to growing manufacturing jobs in Canada. As Chair of the Automotive Caucus, I am absolutely thrilled that Ford is investing here at home. Today’s announcement will help provide good quality, skilled jobs both at home here in Oakville and across Southern Ontario. It will also ensure that Canadians are part of creating connected and efficient vehicles for the future. The Government’s support for innovation in the auto industry means better opportunities for Canadians and growth in our economy.
Together, investments such as these will help Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector ensure its leadership in the competitive global markets through innovation, and work towards Ford of Canada keeping its manufacturing facilities in our country for years to come.
