BRAMPTON — The Brampton Board of Trade says the impact of Stellantis’ decision to mothball its Brampton assembly plant reaches far beyond the 3,000 workers directly employed there — warning that as many as 20,000 additional local jobs could be affected across the city’s economy.
The plant, a major fixture in Brampton’s industrial landscape since 1986, has fueled a network of suppliers, service providers, and small businesses that depend on its operations. “We stand in full solidarity with the 3,000 employees impacted through Unifor,” said Jaipaul Massey-Singh, President and CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade, during an Oct. 22 council meeting. “But we also have to recognize the 18,000 to 20,000 others who are affected indirectly — everyone from the companies providing uniforms and maintenance to the local restaurants that feed the workforce. This decision has sent shockwaves through our community.”
City officials echoed the concern. Andrea Williams, Brampton’s Manager of Advanced Manufacturing and Economic Development, said her office has already identified two dozen local businesses that directly supply the Stellantis plant. “We are talking about thousands of workers across Brampton whose livelihoods are tied to this facility,” she said.
The alarm follows Stellantis’ October 14 announcement that it would cancel a planned retooling of the Brampton assembly line, which had been underway since January 2024 to accommodate production of the Jeep Compass. Instead, the company will shift operations to its Belvidere, Illinois facility, citing a 25 per cent U.S. tariff imposed earlier this year by President Donald Trump as the reason for the move.
The decision has been met with outrage from Unifor Local 1285, which represents Brampton’s assembly workers. “It’s very disrespectful and disgusting behaviour by the company,” said Vito Beato, the local’s president. “We told Stellantis they had commitments — to our members, to the governments that invested in them, and to the community — and they’ve broken that promise.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed he spoke with the company’s CEO and received assurances that Stellantis is exploring options to bring another vehicle model to Brampton, but that plan hinges on the outcome of ongoing trade and tariff negotiations with Washington. “Let’s hope the Trump administration respects the will of the U.S. Senate,” said Mayor Patrick Brown, responding to an Oct. 29 vote in which U.S. senators — including four Republicans — passed a symbolic measure to reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
Even so, uncertainty continues to cloud the North American auto sector. Trump’s erratic tariff policies — which have shifted repeatedly since he took office — have left manufacturers and governments scrambling. The Ontario government has also expressed concern, with both the province and Ottawa now exploring potential legal action against Stellantis for breaching earlier funding and investment agreements.
At its October 29 meeting, Brampton City Council voted unanimously to seek intervener status in any legal proceedings launched by higher levels of government. “Brampton’s partnership with the automotive sector spans four decades — from securing land for the original American Motors Corporation plant in 1984 to supporting Stellantis today,” the city said in a statement.
Mayor Patrick Brown reaffirmed Brampton’s commitment to defending local jobs and holding Stellantis accountable. “Brampton has stood shoulder to shoulder with Stellantis and its predecessors for decades,” he said. “This decision is deeply concerning, but we’re not standing down. We’ll continue to fight for our workers, our businesses, and our city’s future.”
For now, Brampton’s once-booming auto plant stands in limbo — a symbol of how international trade tensions and corporate decisions made thousands of miles away can ripple through a local economy, threatening livelihoods in a community built on manufacturing pride.