"Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford Play the Blame Game in Stellantis Upset..." May 16, 2023 Canadian News Commentary by Bill Kelly
Stellantis threatens to pull out of their Windsor EV battery operation unless they get an enhanced financial deal
It looks like the bromance between Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford may be put to the test sooner rather than later.
Despite political differences on many issues, Trudeau and Ford have worked cooperatively on some key economic issues, not the least of which were the Stellantis and Volkswagen deals that they mutually announced.
The two of them were showering each other with accolades at the Volkswagen announcement, but things changed dramatically when Stellantis threatened to pull out of the Windsor deal unless they get an enhanced financial deal similar to what Volkswagen got.
Premier Ford immediately called out the Federal government, suggesting that the Feds were the ones who had to step up with more cash.
Yesterday, Federal Innovation Minister Francois Philippe Champaigne fired back and claimed that it was the Ontario government who was short-changing Stellantis, and from that point on, it was game-on between Federal and Provincial ministers as they all played the blame game.
To make matters more confusing, the soundtrack for this battle is supplied by a gaggle of economists and pundits who are screaming from the roof tops that both governments grossly overpaid for these deals.
Did they? Or is this just the money our governments need to put on the table to be a player in this Electric Vehicle Evolution?
Do we ante up, or do we fold?
We’d better decide quickly. Stellantis and the others aren’t going to wait around for an answer!