**Title: Ontario's Auto Industry Faces Uncertainty After Stellantis Decision** Canada’s automotive sector is facing significant challenges following Stellantis' announcement regarding its Brampton assembly plant. The company revealed plans to shift production of the Jeep Compass from Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois as part of a $13 billion U.S. manufacturing expansion. This decision has left local officials and workers concerned about the future of the auto industry in the region. Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter expressed his worries, stating, "I am very concerned, very concerned for the future of the auto industry in Ontario." He noted that the announcement comes amid escalating trade tensions linked to tariffs imposed by the U.S. government. Carter described the news as "very disappointing" and suggested it was not coincidental that it followed comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who indicated that Canada should prepare to take a secondary role in the automotive sector. Carter emphasized the potential negative impact on both Canadian and U.S. economies, saying, "It seems like the Americans are making decisions that are going to impact the auto industry significantly in Ontario and I think it’s going to be detrimental to Canada, Ontario and the United States." Ontario Premier Doug Ford also criticized Stellantis' decision, stating he had a conversation with the company's president about the situation. Ford recounted, "He said, ‘Well, we’re going to postpone it for a year, we’re going to find a new model (for the Brampton factory).’" He added that Stellantis indicated that 1,500 of the 3,000 jobs at risk in Brampton could be relocated to Windsor, where the company is constructing an electric vehicle factory. Ford warned that no provincial funding would be provided to Stellantis for the Brampton facility until there are clear assurances regarding its reopening. "Stellantis has a duty to live up to their promise to Brampton autoworkers and continue with their allocation in Brampton," he said. Critics, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles, have voiced concerns about the implications of Stellantis' decision for workers in Ontario. Stiles remarked, "Doug Ford is a jobs disaster. That company made a promise to Ontario workers … and it’s just like everything else we’ve seen in the auto sector, it’s shock after shock after shock." The Ontario Chamber of Commerce also weighed in, with its head, Daniel Tisch, stating that disruptions in one part of the integrated North American automotive industry could have widespread consequences. He remarked, "The only thing that’s clear is that Trump’s tariff policies are toxic to the highly integrated North American auto industry. The egg can’t be unscrambled." Giles Gherson, CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, warned that Stellantis' announcement could lead to further declines in the Ontario economy. He stated, "Yesterday’s announcement … is a worrying demonstration that we are rapidly losing critical mass in a foundational sector of Ontario’s economy." In a recent trade conference, Lutnick bluntly stated that Canada must accept a secondary position in the automotive industry, saying, "Car assembly is going to be in America, and there is nothing Canada can do about it. The question is, what is Canada going to do instead?" As the situation develops, the future of Ontario's automotive industry remains uncertain, with local leaders calling for a renewed commitment to collaboration among Canada, the U.S., and Mexico to ensure the sector's stability.