Just how much of Windsor's economic growth and prosperity is linked to the Stellantis/LG Battery plant?
In March, the Conference Board of Canada said Windsor has the strongest economic outlook over the next three to four years compared to any other metropolitan area in the country.
Speaking from Invest Windsor-Essex's Annual General Meeting, Conference Board of Canada VP Michael Burt said losing any aspect of the plant would have a significant impact on growth projections.
"A lot of our growth path, it's not just that plant, there's the hospital, there's the bridge, there's other major investments going on, but a lot of our growth is tied to all ancillary activities around that, so it would definitely change the growth path for the community," said Burt.
He said despite the importance of the plant and the automotive industry as a whole, there are other industries experiencing growth.
"There's about half a dozen different industries within the broad economy that will see very strong growth over the next three, four years including things like transportation warehousing, financial services, health, they are associated with that plant but also all these other investments that are going on," said Burt.
The Conference Board of Canada projected around 5,000 to 7,000 people a year will move to the region over the next three to four years.
"We are looking at roughly 15,000 jobs being created in the community over the next three to four years, and that number would certainly be smaller if that plant didn't go ahead," said Burt.
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford and Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk both said all parties are very close to reaching an agreement that would see the continuation of construction on the NextStar Energy facility.
