Did Stellantis violate its deals with the feds? Funding contract provided exceptions around Brampton

Did Stellantis violate its federal funding contract with the government? That has been the big question since the company confirmed plans to sell the plant in Brampton, Ontario to defense contractor Rochelle. The prime minister has accused the company of betraying Canadians and its obligations to Canada. Now we don't know for sure whether they have violated the agreement Thank you. We've obtained a redacted copy from the federal government via access to information. And what we know based on this document is that there are protections for the Brampton plant, as the federal government has argued. However, there are also exceptions to those protections, including circumstances beyond Stellantis' control that have rendered the plant commercially unviable. Now, under that provision, if Stellantis... Proves to the federal government, provides ample evidence that it has tried to find an alternative solution for the plan, an alternative mandate, then it is not in violation of the agreement. Now, we asked the federal government, why did you include this language in an amendment to the original 2022 deal in 2023? They did not respond to that question. But said that they've been having good discussions with Unifor, which represents the workers at the Brampton Assembly Plant, about finding a solution and that Stellantis has, as they say, betrayed Canadians' trust. Now. Stellantis is also not talking about what has gone on behind closed doors or what might have led to the wording of certain legal agreements. But the company has said that it is planning to return some public funding related to the Brampton plant to the federal government. It won't say how much. Or when exactly, but we do know that that's something they have now said in response in part to some of this backlash that we're seeing. And on Thursday, there will be a meeting between key stakeholders in the issue, so Unifor, which represents the workers, the federal government, the provincial government, and Stellantis executives. Emma Loop, CBC News, Windsor.