Industry and Technology

The committee met with the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, to discuss the government’s agreements with Stellantis and the broader automotive sector. The minister defended the contracts, arguing they included strong protections for workers and that the jobs guarantee of 4,475 full-time equivalents was a floor averaged over 12 years, not a ceiling. He emphasized that the agreements must be read together with the NextStar battery plant contract, which he said raised the total job floor to about 7,000. He also stated that only $40 million of the $9.7 billion federal commitment had been disbursed, citing the public accounts.

Conservative members pressed the minister on whether the contract allowed Stellantis to reduce its workforce by 45% and still comply, and whether the union was informed of that risk. The minister did not give a direct yes-or-no answer, instead reiterating that the clause was a floor and that the contract included a requirement to maintain production at the Brampton plant until 2035. Conservatives also asked whether the contract prevented Stellantis from using public funds for executive bonuses; the minister did not confirm such a clause.

Bloc Québécois member Gabriel Ste-Marie raised several other topics, including funding for AI organizations like Scale AI, the delayed aerospace strategy, the non-renewal of the community encampment response plan, and support for a closed sawmill in his riding. The minister offered to connect the sawmill owner with him directly. Ste-Marie also expressed concern about provisions in Bill C-15 and Bill C-5 that he said could allow ministers to bypass laws in the name of innovation; the minister replied that such “sandbox” approaches are common in G7 countries and offered to provide an international report.

The committee did not take any decisions or votes during the meeting. The minister’s appearance was the sole item of business, and no motions were moved or resolved.