Two heavyweights — one former and one present — within the Canadian auto business have been named to Ontario’s new Superior Manufacturing Council.

Retired Magna Worldwide CEO Don Walker and Unifor Native 444 President Dave Cassidy, who represents hundreds of hourly Stellantis employees in Windsor, Ont., the place the automaker can be constructing a $5-billion electric-vehicle battery plant, are two of 10 members.

The advisory council’s position might be to advise the federal government of Ontario on find out how to “inform the technique and supply enter into” the province’s Superior Manufacturing Technique, which was introduced as a part of the 2022 finances.

Ontario Minister of Financial Growth, Job Creation and Commerce Vic Fedeli says the council and technique “will assist increase the lengthy‐time period competitiveness and resilience of the manufacturing sector.”

Cassidy is the one member representing labour on the council. However, it’s not the primary time the province has picked a Unifor consultant for the same position. 

Premier Doug Ford in 2021 chosen then-Unifor President Jerry Dias for the Premier’s Council on U.S. Commerce and Business Competitiveness. 

Cassidy has been a member of Unifor’s nationwide government board since 2005. The union is presently ramping up for 2023 contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers, which, collectively, have 5 meeting vegetation, two engine vegetation and a transmission manufacturing unit in Ontario.