by Michael Gauthier
- Stellantis skipped a House of Commons hearing, citing technical issues.
- The alleged glitch reportedly lasted nearly two hours before ending.
- Lawmakers are investigating promises tied to Brampton Assembly deals.
Stellantis has been on the hot seat ever since announcing plans to build the redesigned Jeep Compass at Belvidere Assembly as part of a larger $13 ($18.3 CAD) billion investment in the United States. The model was originally supposed to be made north of the boarder at Brampton Assembly in Ontario.
This last minute switcheroo infuriated Canadians as it came amid President Trump’s trade war and left the status of Brampton Assembly up in the air. This anger has only grown since the company failed to appear before a House of Commons committee yesterday.
More: Canada Threatens Stellantis After Jeep Compass Production Leaves Ontario
The session was focused on contracts with Stellantis and got off to a bad start as the company was a no-show, so Chair Kelly McCauley tossed to an opening statement and hoped the automaker would join by the time it was finished.
However, FCA Canada’s head of external affairs and public policy never showed up. This was despite the session lasting nearly two hours.
While McCauley mentioned the company was having “technical difficulties” at the beginning of the session, the fact they never appeared angered a number of politicians. CBC News noted McCauley called it “stupefying,” while Vice Chair Marie-Hélène Gaudreau said she was “speechless.”
Others expressed disbelief that Stellantis couldn’t figure out how to connect to the session. They’ve got a point as remote meetings exploded in popularity during the pandemic and, if it’s important, you’ll find a way to connect – even if you have to phone in.
Making matters worse, the company’s Canadian newsroom hasn’t addressed the situation. That being said, the automaker told CBC Windsor they were “ready and available to appear remotely.”
However, undisclosed IT issues prevented them from joining. This was despite a “successful test with the committee’s IT team, and an appropriate log-in process, in accordance with the committee’s instructions.”
Needless to say, this isn’t a great look for an automaker that is already being accused of screwing over the Canadian government and employees at Brampton.
Regardless, the session moved forward without Stellantis and the investigation into Brampton contracts continues. The automaker has also been invited to appear before the committee next Thursday.