** CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY **

 
Well, good afternoon everyone.
 
Thank you for having myself and Minister Fedeli here today…it is always a privilege to
speak with you.
 
We know Canada’s auto parts industry is truly world-class… and this incredible
conference is one more example of that.
 
I need to give a shout-out to my friend Flavio Volpe, who has been an absolute
champion for our auto industry… both here at home and outside Canada.
 
I know Flavio, and he won’t take a step back when it comes to supporting Ontario jobs
and workers.
 
He said last week that we need to have our ‘elbows up’ when it comes to vital issues
that would affect Ontario’s auto parts manufacturers…and I couldn’t agree more.
 
It’s never been more important that we stand tall, and never relent when it comes to
fighting for Ontario’s auto parts manufacturers.
 
The protectionist policies proposed by the United States are putting Canadian jobs and
economic success at risk.
 
I know the federal government has been hard at work…and we stand ready to support
them in any way we can.
 
This is the time for a Team Canada approach. In fact, this is the time for a Team North
America approach.
 
Minister Fedeli has been making our case to top U.S. law makers…reminding them that
the best way all of us succeed is by working together.
 
Strengthening our economic bonds…fortifying long-standing cross-border supply
chains…that’s how we set up both of our countries for economic growth.
 
As we continue to make our case…we know that the facts are on our side. Ontario
manufacturing is second-to-none.
 
We have the talent, we have the ambition…
 
And we have the best auto parts makers on the planet, bar none.
 
Vehicle manufacturing has been a cornerstone of Ontario’s economy for over 100
years...
 
The industry in Canada was founded right here.
 
And we’re a government that understands our long history in this field…
 
We also acknowledge the serious challenges facing the auto industry worldwide.
 
But Ontario never shrinks from a challenge. 
 
And I stand here today to promise our government will continue to stand shoulder to
shoulder with you to navigate this changing landscape.
 
Vehicle technology is changing all the time… and Ontario must keep up.
 
And let me assure you once again, we will.
 
That’s why we launched our “Driving Prosperity” plan in 2019…
to help get Ontario’s auto sector ready for what’s coming.
 
We will build the cars here today that are designed for the future of driving.
 
That plan calls for at least 400,000 electric and hybrid vehicles to be made each year in
Ontario by 2030…
 
And as Minister Fedeli will tell you, our plan is working.
 
In Oshawa, the GM plant is back in business and adding new well-paying jobs.
 
The first new pick-up just rolled off the line there last month.
 
Over in Markham, Tesla designs and builds state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment
for its battery assembly lines in Gigafactories around the world.
 
And Ontario is the absolute best place for this to be happening.
 
We are blessed with major deposits of critical minerals and
the folks up north are ready to ramp up our mining production to provide what’s needed
to build these vehicles of the future.
 
We are going to fire this economy up…from corner to corner, nobody will get left behind
as we build all of Ontario for generations to come.
 
We are bringing back manufacturing jobs…we are investing in our workers…and we are
supporting our auto industry so it will lead the way for another 100 years.
 
My friends, this is all part of our plan to build Ontario into the greatest place in the world
to live and work.
 
Thank you again for having me, and for everything you do.
 
God bless the people of Ontario.
 
Now I will turn it over to the Minister Fedeli.