PM, premier attend unveiling of full-scale electric vehicle plant in Ingersoll, Ont.
Designed for deliveries, a fully electric commercial vehicle — the first of its kind — rolled off the CAMI line Monday in Ingersoll, with both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford in attendance.
On Monday, Trudeau, Ford and Ontario’s Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli attended the milestone event in Ingersoll that unveiled Canada’s first full-scale electric vehicle plant.
"The future's here and it's just a great day,” said Mike Van Boekel, Unifor 88 plant chair.
Van Boekel admitted there was some uncertainty surrounding moving away from the production of highly successful Chevy Equinox models, with GM investing $1 billion to retrofit the plant for EV production.
The provincial and federal governments each invested $259 million toward GM's $2-billion plan to transform its Ingersoll plant and overhaul its Oshawa, Ont., plant to make it EV-ready.
"There was a lot of trepidation two years ago. A lot of people weren’t sure. I think, up to six months ago some people were very anxious,” he explained. “But it's proven to be the right choice."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at CAMI in Ingersoll, Ont. on Dec. 5, 2022. (Jim Knight/CTV News London)
The plant rolled its last Equinox off the line at the end of April and shut down for a retrofit in May. Seven months later, large battery packs were being fitted to frames nicknamed “skateboards” for the new vehicles.
"It was intense. It was a challenge,” said Marissa West, GM Canada president.
West credits the CAMI workforce for making the change happen.
"It's a really [good] indication of the amount of innovation and the speed and flexibility that the team is capable of,” she said.
West added that they’re making investments across Canada geared towards EV battery development and EV manufacturing.
Premier Doug Ford speaks at CAMI in Ingersoll, Ont. on Dec. 5, 2022. (Jim Knight/CTV News London)
"GM is 100 per cent committed to our all electric future,” she said. “This product is going to be here for a very long time."
DHL has already signed on for delivery of the vehicles and both FedEx and Walmart are also in the pipeline to use the all-electric BrightDrop vehicles in Ingersoll.
The federal government says the Ingersoll plant is expected to manufacture 50,000 electric vehicles by 2025.
Canada intends to bar the sale of new internal-combustion engines in passenger vehicles by 2035.
— With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Powerful quake rocks Turkiye and Syria, kills more than 2,500
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkiye and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing more than 2,500 people and injuring thousands more as it toppled thousands of buildings and trapped residents under mounds of rubble.
Canada 'stands ready' to help after deadly earthquake rocks Turkiye, Syria: Trudeau
Canada stood ready to provide help in the aftermath of a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkiye and Syria, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday, with over 2,300 people reported dead.
New details emerge ahead of Trudeau-premiers' health-care meeting
As preparations are underway for the anticipated health-care 'working meeting' between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers on Tuesday, new details are emerging about what some provinces are expecting.
Strongest earthquake to hit Buffalo in decades causes rumbles in southern Ontario
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake that struck near Buffalo, N.Y. Monday morning was felt in southern Ontario, officials say.
Full snow moon considered 'micromoon' because of distance from Earth
February's full snow moon will light up the sky over the next two nights, with the spectacle reaching full illumination on Sunday morning. But this year’s full moon will be smaller than those of recent years. It’s called a “micromoon.”
Former Liberal MP Raj Grewal seeks dismissal of charges due to lack of evidence
A former Liberal MP is seeking the dismissal of two criminal charges connected to his time in office. Raj Grewal's lawyer argues that prosecutors have not presented enough evidence to find him guilty of the two breach of trust charges, and the Crown has failed to establish essential elements required for such a finding.
Big tech job cuts keep coming; Dell latest to trim headcount
The tech industry started the year with a wave of job cuts, around 50,000 in January alone, and there doesn't appear to be any let up this month. Here's a look at some of the companies that have announced layoffs so far.
Former Halifax medical student accused of murder claiming self-defence: lawyer
The lawyer representing a former medical student accused of murder says her client will testify that he shot another student in self-defence when a drug deal in Halifax turned violent.
Why was the Turkiye-Syria earthquake so bad?
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkiye and Syria on Monday is likely to be one of the deadliest this decade, seismologists said, with a more than 100 km rupture between the Anatolian and Arabian plates.
Kitchener
-
Pedestrian struck in crash at Kitchener intersection
Three people were transported to hospital after a crash at a Kitchener intersection Monday morning.
-
Man arrested for death threats against Kitchener, Ont. Liberal MP
A 44-year-old Woolwich, Ont., man has been arrested for allegedly making death threats against a member of parliament.
-
Man found guilty of second-degree murder in 2018 death of Bradley Pogue set to appear in court
Sentencing submission are scheduled to begin for the man who was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death on Bradley Pogue in a Cambridge plaza.
Windsor
-
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland visits Windsor-Essex
Chrystia Freeland is touring Reko Automation in Lakeshore, Ont on Monday.
-
Five-vehicle crash impacts E.C. Row traffic
There were no injuries reported after a five-vehicle crash in Tecumseh Monday morning.
-
Chatham-Kent police seize firearms, man charged with uttering threats
Chatham-Kent police seized several firearms from a home when arresting a man for uttering threats.
Barrie
-
Female Barrie officer stabbed in face during crisis call
A 20-year-old female has been arrested for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a Barrie police officer late Sunday night.
-
SIU investigating death of Barrie man
The province's Special Investigations Unit is investigating the death of a 35-year-old man in Barrie Saturday afternoon.
-
Snowmobiler in GTA trauma centre after collision
Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to investigate a single-vehicle collision near Milford Bay in Muskoka Lakes Township shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Northern Ontario
-
Elderly northern Ont. woman turns heads at Grammy Awards
A 78-year-old woman from Sudbury, Ont., -- a Harry Styles superfan -- has become internet famous after announcing the 2023 Grammy Award for Album of the Year on Sunday night.
-
Two arrested in Kapuskasing police investigation, schools closed
Schools in the northern Ontario town of Kapuskasing are closed Monday after Ontario Provincial Police responded to a threat resulting in two arrests.
-
Wanted man busted in Barrie
Rama Police Service took Jacob Bruckner into custody Friday after asking for the public’s help in January in locating the 24-year-old man they considered to be armed and dangerous.
Ottawa
-
Powerful quake rocks Turkiye and Syria, kills more than 2,500
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkiye and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing more than 2,500 people and injuring thousands more as it toppled thousands of buildings and trapped residents under mounds of rubble.
-
Group urges Competition Bureau to investigate Ottawa Hospital project
A group representing construction companies is crying foul over the Ottawa Hospital's agreement with a labour group to build the new $2.8-billion Civic campus.
-
Man, 58, dies in Lanark County snowmobile crash
A 58-year-old man is dead after a snowmobile crash in Lanark County on Sunday.
Toronto
-
Former child actor identified as victim of Toronto hit-and-run homicide
A man killed in a weekend hit-and-run in Toronto was a child actor who starred in a movie shown at the Toronto International Film Festival more than a decade ago.
-
Strongest earthquake to hit Buffalo in decades causes rumbles in southern Ontario
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake that struck near Buffalo, N.Y. Monday morning was felt in southern Ontario, officials say.
-
Woman shot inside her vehicle outside of Burlington gym
A woman was shot in the head while leaving the private lot of a gym in Burlington early Monday morning, police say.
Montreal
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Quebec premier calls Montreal byelection to replace ex-Liberal leader Anglade
Quebecers living in the Montreal riding of the former Quebec Liberal party leader will vote March 13 in a byelection to choose her replacement.
-
Crown wants sex assault case of fashion mogul Peter Nygard to move more quickly
The Crown says it wants the Quebec sexual assault case involving Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard to proceed more quickly.
-
Black-owned restaurateurs in Montreal making space in the culinary scene
More and more Black-owned restaurants and culinary experiences have begun to dot the landscape of the city's culinary scene, but more is needed to help their communities' gastronomic enterprises thrive.
Atlantic
-
Former Halifax medical student accused of murder claiming self-defence: lawyer
The lawyer representing a former medical student accused of murder says her client will testify that he shot another student in self-defence when a drug deal in Halifax turned violent.
-
Several Maritime schools closed after frigid weekend, hundreds without power in N.S.
Hundreds of Nova Scotians are without power Monday morning following frigid temperatures and high winds over the weekend.
-
Cape Breton man charged after dog tied up outside in cold temperatures
A Cape Breton man has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly left a dog tied up outside in Louisdale, N.S., last week.
Winnipeg
-
Sentencing underway in 'savage' attack on Winnipeg bus
A 45-year-old man is being sentenced today for an attack on a Winnipeg Transit bus described in court as “savage, sadistic and shocking.”
-
Bonnie Raitt wins Grammy for cover of Manitoba band's song
American singer Bonnie Raitt took home three Grammy Awards this weekend, including one for a cover she did of a Manitoba band’s song.
-
Crown wants sex assault case of fashion mogul Peter Nygard to move more quickly
The Crown says it wants the Quebec sexual assault case involving Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard to proceed more quickly.
Calgary
-
Calgary police seek teen missing since end of January
Calgary police are looking to the public for help finding a teen who has been missing since late last month.
-
Powerful quake rocks Turkiye and Syria, kills more than 2,500
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkiye and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing more than 2,500 people and injuring thousands more as it toppled thousands of buildings and trapped residents under mounds of rubble.
-
Garmin Canada expansion expected to bring 200 new tech jobs to Cochrane, Alta.
Garmin Canada has announced plans to expand its headquarters in the town of Cochrane, just west of Calgary, creating nearly 200 technology-based jobs.
Edmonton
-
More than 200 firearms stolen in Edmonton, police recover 23
Three people have been arrested and charged with firearms trafficking after a six-month investigation in Edmonton. More than 200 registered, restricted, prohibited and antique firearms were stolen, along with ammunition.
-
38 pounds of cannabis, 170 cartons of tobacco seized from Alberta home
Police have seized a significant amount of illegal cannabis and tobacco products from a home in Athabasca.
-
Canada 'stands ready' to help after deadly earthquake rocks Turkiye, Syria: Trudeau
Canada stood ready to provide help in the aftermath of a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkiye and Syria, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday, with over 2,300 people reported dead.
Vancouver
-
Man found dead in Vancouver's Chinatown, police investigating as homicide
A homicide investigation has been launched in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood, where a man was found dead Monday.
-
Parts of B.C.'s South Coast under rainfall warning
The week is off to a wet start on B.C.’s South Coast, with a rainfall warning in effect for Howe Sound and Squamish.
-
Gloomy economic outlook, elevated mortgages drag down 2023 B.C. housing market: BCREA
The British Columbia Real Estate Association says the chill across the province's property sector will drag on through this year, but it calls for a strong rebound in 2024.