Ontario manufacturing crisis deepens, 33,000 jobs lost in one month. Auto and rail industries hit hard, layoffs spread across the province
Ontario’s manufacturing sector is facing a crisis, with 33,000 jobs lost in April alone. This represents a 3.9 percent decline in the province’s entire manufacturing workforce, a staggering drop in just one month. The layoffs span multiple industries, including automotive, rail, and heavy equipment production, signaling deeper economic troubles ahead.
General Motors has announced a shift reduction at its Oshawa Assembly plant, cutting its workforce by nearly 30 percent. The move comes in response to new U.S. tariffs on Canadian-built vehicles, which have disrupted trade and forced automakers to rethink their production strategies. The union representing GM workers has called the decision “reckless”, warning that it will have long-term consequences for Ontario’s auto industry.
Thunder Bay’s Alstom rail plant is also shedding jobs, with over 200 workers set to be laid off as a major contract winds down. The company is awaiting word on a $2.2 billion subway train contract, which could determine whether more jobs are lost in the coming months. The uncertainty has left employees anxious about their futures, with union leaders describing the mood as “doom and gloom”.
The broader economic picture is troubling. Ontario’s reliance on manufacturing has made it vulnerable to global trade shifts and policy changes. The province’s job market is already under pressure, and these layoffs could trigger ripple effects across related industries. With inflation still high and consumer spending slowing, the timing of these job losses could not be worse.
The silence from policymakers is concerning. While Ontario Premier Doug Ford has pledged support for affected workers, there has been little in the way of concrete action to prevent further layoffs. The federal government has yet to outline a strategy to counter the impact of U.S. trade policies, leaving businesses and workers in a precarious position.
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