Battery Component Plant Opening in Port Colborne

The Asahi Kasei Corporation, Japanese company, is spending roughly $1.6-billion, plant operational in 2027

A multi-national Japanese company is spending roughly $1.6-billion on an electric vehicle battery separator plant in Port Colborne.

Construction is expected to be done by year's end, and working in 2027.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was joined by the Prime Minister, and members of their cabinets, as well as representatives from Asahi Kasei Corporation.

PM Justin Trudeau welcomed the investment.  "Separators are essential components of electric vehicles, and this plant will be the first large scale separator plant in the country.  Here, the Niagara trade corridor is one of North America's most important trade corridors."

The Niagara region says the plant is on Highway 140, south of Highway 58A, on the land formerly known as the Nyon Lands.

Ontario's Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli repeated what many said during the course of the announcement, that it's taken a lot of work.  "Then last fall we met again, here, in Niagara.  We talked about the land, and the details of the project, and that was a really pivotal day, because that's the day, in my opinion, when we went from sales mode to partnership."

Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele pointed out this is bigger than when the International Nickel Company set up in 1914, back then that investment set up roughly 3,000 jobs.

As for the number of jobs this investment creates, that figure has not been released yet.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party of Canada has released the following statement:

“Justin Trudeau was all smiles at today’s multi-billion dollar photo op, but Canadian taxpayers and workers have nothing to be happy about. His payout to Honda, the latest profitable multinational company he is subsidizing to the tune of billions in Canadians’ money, shockingly provides no guarantee for Canadian jobs.

 Like we’re seen with other projects like in Windsor, Justin Trudeau has no problem selling out our Canadian union workers and taxpayers. And when he is caught and held to account by common sense Conservatives, he and his Liberal-NDP coalition have lied about it, refused to release the unredacted contracts, and tried every trick to cover it up.

 Common sense Conservatives will ensure Canadians' tax dollars are used wisely, and that any taxpayer-funded jobs are given Canadians, not foreign replacement workers.”