Premier Doug Ford in is Alliston Friday on a visit to the Honda Canada manufacturing plant.
During his visit to the plant, Ford took some time to speak with CTV News.
“Great, hard working people, quality people producing quality products here at Honda,” Ford said.
“I want to thank Honda for their $867 million investment,” he added, “We’re investing $156 million to create the best vehicles in the world.”
“It gives a sign of confidence in the people of Ontario,” Ford said, reflecting on the multimillion dollar investment by Honda earlier this week.
“We’re proud that a lot of these parts are coming right from around Ontario and (they are) quality products,” Ford said.
“We want zero tariffs off the U.S.,” Ford said when asked the ongoing trade war with the U.S. and its impact on Ontario’s automotive sector.
“We buy 400 per cent more cars off the U.S. than anyone in the world,” he said, adding “and the vast majority of all our vehicles head down to the U.S.”
Ford went on to say the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact was created in 1965 “and you can’t unscramble an egg, you have to make the omelet larger and that’s our message to our colleagues south of the border.”
Ford credited Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, with bringing home new investments “every day.”
$166 Million investment
Ford’s visit to the plants in Alliston comes just days after a major announcement from the company.
On Monday, Honda Canada announced $166 million to upgrade and retool its Alliston, Ont., manufacturing plant.
The local investment is part of a larger $867 million commitment to to bolster its ”North American manufacturing network and meet growing demand for hybrid vehicles.”
The company says the investment will help secure more than 4,000 jobs and expanding production of future hybrid-electric vehicles and engines.
Honda Canada President and CEO Dave Jamieson said it reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to Canadian manufacturing.
“For 40 years, Honda associates in Alliston have demonstrated the skill, innovation and commitment that have made our Canadian operations a cornerstone of Honda’s manufacturing network in North America,” said Jamieson.
He added that the money will help “position the Canadian operations for long-term competitiveness and future opportunities” while benefiting suppliers and the broader economy.
40 years in Alliston, Ont.
The investment in Alliston comes days after Honda celebrated it’s 40th anniversary of opening up shop in central Ontario.
The company is the region’s biggest employer with 4,200 associates.
The first vehicle to roll off the assembly line was a Honda Accord in 1986.
The company has invested $6.5 billion since arriving and is the country’s second largest auto manufacturer by production volume. Honda supports about 30,000 spin-off jobs in the auto sector.
The Alliston location has produced more than 11.5 million vehicles since production began in Alliston.
With files from CTV’s Julianna Balsamo and Rob Cooper.
