Some workers say they are being laid off due to long-term downtime at automotive plants that closed for remodelling to make electrified vehicles. (Financial Post) 

Talking point: Employment in the auto-parts manufacturing sector overall has eased slightly over the past year. Despite a steep drop in 2020, employment in the auto-parts manufacturing sector rose nearly one per cent between July 2019 and July 2023. As of July 2024, however, employment had fallen nearly five per cent below 2019 levels. Parts makers had hoped that securing new EV investments would stem job losses after years of tough conditions, but trade union Unifor has also warned that more programs are needed to help the employees making up one-fifth of Canada’s auto-parts industry, who, as of 2022, made parts that can’t be used in EVs. Workers now are antsy about their future prospects as automakers delay plans to make EVs due to slower-than-expected sales growth.