Justin Trudeau visited Windsor on Tuesday, making three stops in the city: the University of Windsor, the Windsor Assembly Plant and the Willistead Estate for a party fundraiser.
Trudeau did not make any government announcements during his stops, but reiterated his government’s support for the auto industry.
“Our greatest asset is all of you,” Trudeau told a large gathering of auto workers at the minivan plant. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the recognition in the industry and around the world that this is a place and you are people worth investing in.”
Trudeau was taken on a tour of the sprawling Stellantis factory, stopping along the way to learn more about the plant’s achievements, both in terms of quality and the role employees play in helping the wider community.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tours the Windsor assembly plant during his visit to Windsor, Ontario. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor) The production line wasn’t running for Trudeau’s tour, and on many occasions he deviated from the path his handlers had set up to greet Stellantis employees, give them shake hands and take pictures.
Trudeau assured workers he understood the value of the Windsor Assembly.
“If you want to fix it, do it in Windsor,” Trudeau said. “Windsor workers are that competitive advantage.”
Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy stepped up to the microphone during the media scrum to thank Trudeau for being in town.
“Thank you for continuing to believe in us. Because like you said earlier, if you want it built right, you’re going to build it right here in Windsor,” Cassidy said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tours the Windsor assembly plant during his visit to Windsor, Ontario. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor)
Trudeau’s visit was also the first visit to Windsor for Lana Payne, Unifor’s new national president.
“I think it’s really important that he’s doing this right now. We have a tour to talk about the transformation in the automotive sector and how important that is to Canada,” Payne said. “We’re on the cusp of something really huge.”
Payne said she didn’t get a chance to speak directly with Trudeau on Tuesday, but told CTV News she had a half-hour conversation with the prime minister after she was elected national president.
“Our aim as a union is obviously to make sure we get every cent of investment we can get here from employers and government and really build a strong automotive sector with good paying union jobs, I might add, for generations to come — Payne said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ont., Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor) Earlier in the day, Trudeau visited the CHARGE lab at the University of Windsor. It stands for “Centre for Hybrid Automotive and Green Energy Research”.
“We are one of the best laboratories when it comes to electric propulsion in North America,” said Dr. Narayan Carr, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Windsor. “There must be something good we are doing that has caught the prime ministers’ attention.”
Carr took Trudeau on a quick tour of their lab, highlighting the various research areas the students are working on.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ont., Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor)
“We’re doing a significant amount of research related to electric vehicles here,” Carr said. “We have postgraduate training and (graduate) a large number of students who could make a good contribution to the industry we’re going to have.”
At each stop on the lab tour, Trudeau asked questions of each student participating in the event.
“Windsor is the car town in the country and the University of Windsor is the car university in the country,” Carr proudly told CTV News.
Add Comment