Industry Minister Says He Was Unaware of Foreign Workers Coming to Subsidized Battery Plant

Windsor Police had said that around 1,600 South Koreans were expected to arrive in the Ontario city next year to set up the plant.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sept. 21, 2023. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says he didn’t know that over 1,500 foreign workers would be coming to Windsor, Ont., to work on an electric vehicle battery plant subsidized with $15 billion in taxpayer funds.

When asked by reporters in Ottawa on Nov. 21 whether he knew there would be temporary foreign workers brought in to set up the NextStar Energy battery plant, he replied, “No, not necessarily.”