NextStar Energy has confirmed the number of foreign workers coming to Windsor to help get its new electric vehicle battery plant up to full operation.
On Thursday, a statement from NextStar Energy in response to questions from CTV News indicated approximately 1,600 technicians will “assemble, install and test” the specialized equipment required to build the batteries; and up to 900 of those technicians are predominantly from South Korea.
“They have specific knowledge of the equipment, having been part of the team to build it and disassemble it for shipping, and will therefore see the installation through,” reads the release.
According to NextStar Energy, the work is expected to last between three months to 18 months — upon which time those specialists are expected to return home.
The company stressed the positions “are not permanent full-time jobs.”
The company also reiterated its commitment to create 2,500 full-time positions at the new NextStar Energy plant for Canadians.
Concern over the number of foreign workers hired to work at the facility arose following an Ontario Ministry of Labour inspection indicated 11 South Korean professionals could not continue their work because it fell outside provincial laws.
“As these individuals may not have the necessary skilled trades credentials to do the work, we have relayed our concerns to the company and stressed their obligations under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act,” said David Piccini, the provincial labour minister, in a statement on Nov. 17.
With the new LGEngergy Solutions battery plant being built, we expect approximately 1,600 South Koreans traveling to work and live in our community in 2024.
A Nov. 16 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the Windsor Police Service following a meeting with Korean ambassador Lim Woong Soon also raised questions when it referenced an expectation of “approximately 1,600 South Koreans” would be coming to “work and live” in the region as of 2024.
The figure became a lightning rod for controversy among politicians in Toronto and Ottawa in the days and weeks to follow.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called for a full inquiry into the issue while Ontario’s ministers of labour and economic development, Piccini and Vic Fedeli respectively, wrote a letter to the federal government calling for the number of foreign workers in Ontario currently at the Windsor construction site and how many would be arriving under federal programs be disclosed.
Earlier this week, federal Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said he expected NextStar Energy to bring “very few” foreign workers to help transfer battery manufacturing technology as Canada establishes a new industry.
The plant will be Canada’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant and is expected to receive $15 billion in public subsidies. —With files from CTV’s Siobhan Morris, The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.
Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.
The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.
Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.
Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
TORONTO – Thomson Reuters reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as its revenue rose eight per cent.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it earned US$301 million or 67 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The result compared with a profit of US$367 million or 80 cents US per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled US$1.72 billion, up from US$1.59 billion a year earlier.
In its outlook, Thomson Reuters says it now expects organic revenue growth of 7.0 per cent for its full year, up from earlier expectations for growth of 6.5 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Thomson Reuters says it earned 80 cents US per share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 82 cents US per share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 76 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
