TORONTO, Ont. — The Canadian automotive industry has a “generational opportunity” ahead of it as the electrification of the sector continues, the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said Thursday at the Canadian International AutoShow.
Speaking from the Innovation Stage, sponsored by EnerSavings and the Toronto Star, in the Electric City feature at the AutoShow, Mr. Champagne hinted at big announcements in the automotive sector that will be coming over the course of 2023, and praised Canada’s potential as a key link in the future automotive supply chain.
“This is our moment, and I like to say let’s seize the moment, let’s be ambitious,” he said. “We are seeing generational opportunities, and it’s for us as Canadians to seize them. We have everything to succeed in the economy of the 21stcentury. I’ve never been more upbeat to look at the future, especially in the automotive sector.”
In addressing the crowd at the AutoShow, Mr. Champagne cited several advantages Canada offers automotive manufacturers, including critical minerals that are located here, readily available renewable energy and access to markets, noting that Canada is the only G7 nation that has free trade agreements with all of the other G7 nations.
He pointed to the Project Arrow concept car — which he helped introduce during the AutoShow’s Media Day preview event on February 16th — as a “business card” of Canadian innovation and automotive prowess.
“We can say to the world, we can produce an electric vehicle with all made-in-Canada parts,” Mr. Champagne said, later adding: “This is the type of thing where we insert ourselves in the strategic supply chain for the vehicles of the future.”
The approach is working. Mr. Champagne noted Umicore N.V. in Kingston, Ont., making vital parts for EV batteries, and General Motors investing in its St. Catharines, Ont., plant to build electric drive units that will be used in the electrification of GM’s fleet, including the Cadillac Lyric, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer electric SUV.
These are examples of captains of industry making a deliberate choice to invest in Canada.
“When you have brands betting on Canada, it resonates,” Mr. Champagne said.
While at the AutoShow, Mr. Champagne also visited the APMA Project Arrow display and toured various manufacturers’ booths.
View the video of Minister Champagne’s conversation at autoshow.ca/clutch-news.See highlights of his AutoShow tour by clicking here.
A repayable Government of Canada investment of $500,000 through the Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to create Electric City supports the federal mandate for zero-emission vehicles in Canada.
The AutoShow runs until February 26th. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit autoshow.ca. Media accreditation to the 2023 AutoShow can be requested at autoshow.ca/media-registration.
Stay connected with the Canadian International AutoShow on Instagram @autoshowca, Twitter @autoshowcanadaand Facebook /autoshowcanada.
About the Canadian International AutoShow, presented by The Toronto Star
Celebrating its 50th year, the Canadian International AutoShow features more than 650,000 square feet of exhibits, displays and attractions spanning the North and South Buildings of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. With annual attendance in excess of 330,000, the Canadian International AutoShow is not only the largest automotive expo in Canada, it is also the country’s largest consumer show. A leader in lifestyle, technology and all things automotive, it is a showcase for the latest cars, trucks, SUVs, concept cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, electric vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles and autonomous vehicles.
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For more information, please contact:
Kalvin Reid
Director of Public Relations
Enterprise Canada
289-241-7936
kreid@enterprisecanada.com
Twitter: @KalReid
