Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter has promised support to workers impacted by the decision to return the General Motors’ Oshawa Assembly to a two-shift operation instead of the current three.
“On behalf of the City of Oshawa and City Council, I extend our compassion and support for those workers and their families who will be impacted. We are here for you, and alongside GM we are working together with our business community to support you as you transition to new job opportunities over the next several months,” said Carter in a statement issued Friday.
Mayor Carter emphasized the resilience of the city’s economy.
“In these dynamic economic times, communities across Canada, including the City of Oshawa, are facing challenges and uncertainty. However, in Oshawa there is much to be grateful for. Oshawa is a vibrant and diverse city, home to four globally-recognized post-secondary institutions, state-of-the-art healthcare and research facilities, and outstanding amenities. Major industrial companies are establishing their global operations and creating quality new jobs at Oshawa’s Northwood Business Park. Our robust economy has made Oshawa a community of choice for tens of thousands of new residents who are discovering Oshawa’s vibrancy and opportunities.
“We are a resilient city that never gives up on itself or each other. As mayor, I encourage all of us to come together to support those impacted by today’s announcement. Let’s uphold our tradition as a caring community and assist our talented workforce, the backbone of our community,” the mayor said.
He said Oshawa is home to over 75,000 jobs with an employment base that has grown by 15 per cent since 2011. “Our top five sectors – health care, retail trade, educational services, accommodation and food services, and professional services – account for about 50 per cent of all employment, with manufacturing accounting for approximately 3-6 per cent of jobs.”
Praise for GM
He pointed out that since 2020, GM has invested $1.5 billion in new products and upgrades in Oshawa. GM’s investments have created approximately 2,000 manufacturing jobs and thousands of indirect jobs at Canadian suppliers across Durham Region.
“We are proud of the award-winning Oshawa Assembly plant that continues to produce both heavy and light-duty Chevrolet Silverado pickups – the only plant of its kind. Oshawa continues to play a central role in GM’s largest and most important market segment across the continent, where thousands of talented Oshawa workers continue to help GM meet demand for its leading family of pickup trucks. Current manufacturing operations are complemented by renowned research facilities with the McLaughlin Advanced Technology Track at Oshawa’s Canadian Technical Centre. We look forward to collaborations that will continue our tradition of automotive innovation and global leadership in advanced manufacturing.”
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