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
WHO: COVID-19 still an emergency but nearing 'inflection' point
The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an 'inflection point' where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-related deaths.
Federal departments failed to spend $38B on promised programs, services last year
The federal government failed to spend tens of billions of dollars in the last fiscal year on promised programs and services, including new military equipment, affordable housing and support for veterans.
NDP to call for emergency debate in House of Commons over private health care
Federal New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will call on the House of Commons to hold an emergency debate on the privatization of health care.
Parliamentarians return to House of Commons facing rocky economic year
Economic matters will be top of mind for parliamentarians as they return to Ottawa to kick off a new year in federal politics.
Suicide bomber kills 28, wounds 150 at mosque in NW Pakistan
A suicide bomber struck Monday inside a mosque within a police compound in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 28 people and wounding as many as 150 worshippers, most of them policemen, officials said.
23 vehicles towed, dozens of tickets issued as rally marks one-year anniversary of 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa
OPS and Ottawa Bylaw officers issued 192 parking tickets and 67 Provincial Offences Notices in downtown Ottawa this weekend, as people gathered marked the one-year anniversary of the 'Freedom Convoy'.
Once-in-a-lifetime discovery: Indigenous jacket more than a century old turns up in small U.K. town
When 1990s suede fringe jackets started making a comeback last year, a U.K.-based vintage clothing company decided to order four tonnes of suede from a supplier in the United States. Along with that shipment came a once-in-a lifetime discovery.
Quebec basic income program begins, but advocates say many low-income people excluded
Anti-poverty activists are praising the Quebec basic income program as a good step toward helping people meet their basic needs — but say strict eligibility criteria exclude many of the province’s lowest-income residents.
Ukrainian kids find cellphone signal on hill, set up makeshift school
On a bleak, windswept hillside in northeast Ukraine, three young boys recently discovered a cell phone signal, something difficult to find in their region since Russia invaded their country. and they've set up a makeshift school around the signal.
Kitchener
-
Local group organizes townhall with WRPS Chief to discuss action against hate crimes
Sunday marks the 6th anniversary of a deadly attack at a Quebec City mosque where six men were killed and five others were critically injured.
-
No injuries after fire at Cambridge McDonald’s
The Cambridge Fire Department said there were no injuries after a fire at a Mcdonald’s on Main Street in Cambridge.
-
'Could have been catastrophic': Fire official credits CO detector in helping save two people
The Waterloo Fire Department is crediting a working carbon monoxide (CO) detector for potentially helping to save the lives of two people early Sunday morning.
Windsor
-
DNA leads Chatham police to October robbery suspect
A Chatham man has been arrested in relation to a robbery that took place in October. According to police, officers first responded to a business on King Street West for a robbery investigation.
-
Double digit wind chill temperatures in Windsor-Essex
A sunny but cold week is on the way for Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. Temperatures will be reaching highs of what is typically forecast as the average low for this time of year.
-
Protestors, faith leaders, DWBIA chair call for Windsor city council to support SafePoint location
As Windsor city councillors consider rescinding their support for the previously-approved location for the SafePoint consumption and treatment site (CTS), protestors are expected to be outside city hall demanding the project move forward as scheduled.
Barrie
-
Winter squalls and advisories spread across Central Ontario
Flurries and local snow squalls are expected this afternoon into Tuesday morning.
-
Police seek witnesses to fatal car crash in the Blue Mountains
Police are continuing their investigation into a fatal single motor vehicle collision early Thursday morning in the Blue Mountains.
-
Construction for affordable housing begins in Bradford West Gwillimbury
In Bradford, new construction for affordable housing is expected to begin Mon. Jan. 30.
Northern Ontario
-
Driver receives 24 traffic tickets in less than 24 hours
A southern Ontario driver operating a commercial motor vehicle based in Edmonton, Alta. has been charged with 24 Highway Traffic Act offences in a 24-hour period before the vehicle was removed from service in northern Ontario.
-
'24,' 'Runaways' actor Annie Wersching has died at 45
Actor Annie Wersching, best known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the series '24' and providing the voice for Tess in the video game 'The Last of Us' has died. She was 45.
-
U.S. mom convicted of killing her infant twins
A Missouri mother who reported that her infant twins were stillborn has been convicted of manslaughter. Maya Caston, 28, was convicted of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment.
Ottawa
-
23 vehicles towed, dozens of tickets issued as rally marks one-year anniversary of 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa
OPS and Ottawa Bylaw officers issued 192 parking tickets and 67 Provincial Offences Notices in downtown Ottawa this weekend, as people gathered marked the one-year anniversary of the 'Freedom Convoy'.
-
Power outage partially shuts down O-Train service Sunday evening
A section of Ottawa's Confederation Line was out of service for more than 90 minutes Sunday evening due to a power outage. Full service resumed just after 10 p.m.
-
Red flag flying on Rideau Canal Skateway forces festival to cancel event
With the world's largest skating rink still closed, the Ice Dragon Boat Festival scheduled for next weekend has been cancelled.
Toronto
-
Truck rollover, diesel spill blocking highway access to Toronto Pearson Airport
A truck rollover that resulted in a diesel spill is blocking highway accessing to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
-
'She told the truth:' Hazel McCallion’s children mourn her death but celebrate her life
Following the death of former long-time Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion on Sunday, two of her children shared what made her special, both as a mayor and a mother.
-
Top doctor declares extreme cold weather alert in Toronto
Toronto will be opening its three warming centres later on today following the issuance of an extreme cold weather alert.
Montreal
-
Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price family looking to move, sell home
Months after a knee injury put Montreal goaltender Carey Price off the ice for the 2023 season, the Price family says they're preparing to leave the province.
-
Six-year-old dies after incident at Quebec ski resort
A six-year-old girl died in hospital Sunday night after being involved in an incident at the Val-Saint-Côme ski resort in Lanaudiere. Quebec police are investigating, though details into the event are not yet known. Officers indicated that it involved a T-bar lift, but they were not able to say more.
-
Quebec basic income program begins, but advocates say many low-income people excluded
Anti-poverty activists are praising the Quebec basic income program as a good step toward helping people meet their basic needs — but say strict eligibility criteria exclude many of the province’s lowest-income residents.
Atlantic
-
'I personally am affected by that': Nova Scotians express outrage over death of Tyre Nichols
Horror, outrage, and pain are just a few words Robert Wright uses to describe his feelings after watching Tyre Nichols pinned and assaulted by officers in Memphis.
-
Actress and former senator Viola Leger, best known as La Sagouine, dies at 92
Actress, teacher and former senator Viola Leger has died at the age of 92.
-
Strike action begins at Memorial University of Newfoundland after deadline passes
More than 800 faculty members at Newfoundland's Memorial University are on strike. The Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association confirmed in an email to The Canadian Press that the job action began at midnight NST after the deadline passed to reach an agreement with the school.
Winnipeg
-
Jennifer Jones returns to Canadian women's curling championship in Manitoba colours
Jennifer Jones wins Manitoba's women's curling championship
-
Extreme cold prompts school, bus cancellations in Manitoba
As much of Manitoba experiences extreme wind chill values on Monday, some Manitoba schools and buses are cancelled.
-
Frigid cold and extreme wind chills being felt across much of Manitoba
Manitobans are going to want to bundle up on Monday morning as much of the province is experiencing freezing temperatures.
Calgary
-
Foothills Fieldhouse discussion returning to Calgary City Hall
The Foothills Athletic Park redesign could get a little closer to reality on Monday.
-
What would it mean if WHO declares the COVID-19 global emergency over?
Monday could mark a major milestone in the history of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the World Health Organization stands poised to decide whether or not to declare an end to the global public health emergency.
-
The day the beer cooler fried: Craft brewer closes due to suddenly exploding suds
A Calgary craft beer store experienced its worst-case scenario Saturday night.
Edmonton
-
Alberta landowners fear repeat of orphan well crisis as renewable energy booms
Across rural Alberta, concerns are growing about the long-term implications of the province's renewable energy boom — the speed and scale of which has been nothing short of stunning.
-
Ukraine needs more weapons, more quickly: Zelenskyy
Ukraine needs new weapons and faster deliveries to confront a 'very tough' situation of constant attacks by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
-
Community town hall to focus on future of Hwy 16A and Range Road 20 intersection
The future of an intersection west of Edmonton in Parkland County, known by some as the "death trap" for being the scene of multiple crashes, continues to be reviewed by the provincial government.
Vancouver
-
Dozens of animals killed in fire at Surrey exotic animal rescue
A fire at an exotic animal rescue in Surrey killed dozens of animals and displaced many more over the weekend.
-
Orthopaedic surgeries down 25% in B.C. public hospitals as private sector picks up slack
Orthoopaedic surgeons report that they’re doing only three quarters of the surgeries they used to in B.C.'s public hospitals, with an increasing number of taxpayer-funded procedures carried out in private facilities
-
B.C. couple says they were scammed by 'professional' wedding photographer who used stock images as portfolio
A Vancouver couple says they were scammed by a wedding photographer who used stock photos for his portfolio, delivered sub-par snaps of their big day, and then stopped taking their phone calls.