The dispute with Stellantis intensified after the automaker relocated production of the Jeep Compass from its Brampton, Ontario, facility to a plant in Illinois. According to Joly, the government’s support—totaling approximately 1.1 billion Canadian dollars ($731 million)—was strictly performance-based. "A lot of our support was linked to production, and therefore if there was no production, obviously there was no funding," Joly told reporters, adding that the government is prepared to pursue legal action to recover the funds.

General Motors faces similar financial pressure after canceling a third shift at its Oshawa plant and abandoning plans to manufacture electric vans in Ingersoll. Joly confirmed that Ottawa is specifically seeking the return of C$260 million previously earmarked for the Ingersoll site. While GM cited cooling demand for electric vehicles as the reason for the production halt last October, the government maintains that the breach of production commitments necessitates a refund.

Manufacturing Hubs Under Scrutiny

Federal officials have been in negotiations with Stellantis since November to address the shift in operations. The government's recovery efforts currently target investments across three key locations:

• The Brampton assembly plant, following the loss of the Jeep Compass line.
• The Oshawa facility, where labor capacity was recently reduced.
• The Ingersoll factory, which has failed to resume its promised EV production.

Stellantis has defended its record, noting that nearly 240 employees from Brampton accepted transfers to its Windsor operations. The company previously stated it remains committed to maintaining a sustainable manufacturing presence in Canada. However, Joly’s latest comments signal a hardening stance from Ottawa as it seeks to hold global automakers accountable for the public capital they received.