Ford: Despite criticism, Windsor well-positioned to meet industrial energy needs

Article content

Speaking at a Windsor campaign stop on Tuesday, Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford slammed criticism of Southwestern Ontario’s energy supply leveled by provincial election opponents.

Article content

During a visit at Laval Tool and Mould, Ford said the province was well-positioned to meet the energy needs of the region’s growing auto and industrial sectors, after reports earlier this month that South Korea chemicals company LG Chem may not choose Windsor for a $2.5 -billion plant amid concerns about the region’s energy supply.

Those reports prompted Liberal leader Steven Del Duca on the weekend to pledge an independent inquiry into Windsor’s energy supply.

“We invested a billion dollars on five transmission lines coming here,” Ford said. “That’s pretty rich of the Del Duca-Wynne Liberals, talking about energy as they drove up energy costs.”

Those proposed transmission lines between London, Windsor and Sarnia are set to be built through 2030, with three of those lines declared as priorities to streamline the Ontario Energy Board’s regulatory process.

Article content

Ford said he had not received any recent updates from LG Chem on the status of that plant, but said he expects to hear more “in a week or two.”

“What I can tell you is we’re going to do everything we can to attract LG again.”

The future of the proposed plant has been a hot topic among provincial party leaders in the final days before the June 2 election, with both Del Duca and NPD leader Andrea Horwath criticizing the Ford government’s action on ensuring energy supply.

Del Duca was in the Windsor area Monday, while Horwath spoke in Essex on Sunday.

Ford also highlighted recent announcements for the region’s auto sector and investments for Windsor’s new hospital as examples of his government’s work and spending in Windsor-Essex.

Article content

“Over the past 18 months we’ve secured over $14 billion in new investments for major auto manufacturers, including more than $5 billion from LG and Stellantis to build Canada’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery plant right here in Windsor, and $3.6 billion to secure a third shift at Stellantis,” Ford said.

Ford was joined by Essex County Warden Gary McNamara, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor-Tecumseh PC candidate Andrew Dowie.

Dilkens endorsed Ford for premier during a campaign stop in Windsor earlier this month. The region has been a stronghold for Liberal and NDP MPPs since the late 1990s.

“It’s time for Windsor to have a seat at the table,” Ford said in making his appeal for Dowie. “I can’t stress that enough folks. It’s time to send Andrew Dowie and our great Windsor region candidates to Queen’s Park.

Article content

“Friends, make no mistake Ontario’s best days are ahead, especially right here in Windsor-Essex,” Ford said.

Ford also cited his government’s support for the region’s new hospital and an expanded Highway 3 from Windsor to Leamington.

In speaking to his climate agenda, Ford said he disagreed with assertions his party’s climate agenda wasn’t aggressive enough, citing recent spending on transit and electric vehicle infrastructure – but also said the vast majority of people drive and his party is focusing on electric vehicles for the future.

Ford also spoke to the ongoing power outages in the Ottawa region after a major storm ripped through the capital last week, leaving some people without power for as many as 10 days. .