Ford to cut production, jobs at its largest Canadian plant

Ford will continue producing its Edge and Lincoln MKX models. Felker said demand remained strong for those models and there are no plans for additional cuts.

“Oakville is an important plant for us,” Felker said.

Both the Flex and MKT are sold globally. Felker did not have information about the sourcing of the parts. 

The 450 employees represent about 10% of the plant’s work. 

Unifor, the union representing plant workers, called on Ford to change the mix of vehicles produced at the plant. 

“New or expanded vehicle allocation is urgently needed to prevent permanent job loss at the Ford Oakville plant,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said in a statement.

Felker said any future production changes would depend on demand. 

The cutbacks at Ford’s Oakville plant will take place after GM (NYSE:GM) shuts down vehicle production at its Oshawa plant. 

Already in a long-term decline, Canada’s auto sector and suppliers got hit with the steel and aluminum tariffs from the U.S., followed by the more recent GM strike.

Tariffs and the strike have hurt the flatbed business of Canada’s largest trucking and logistics company, TFI International (TSX:TFI), CEO Alain Bedard said during a call with analysts about third-quarter earnings. 

“Our flatbeds have been very unlucky,” Bedard said.