Nearly 200 skilled tradespeople—including millwrights, electricians, and ironworkers—were suddenly laid off this week at the NextStar Energy electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. The layoffs were ordered by Sylvan Canada, a contractor on the project, which said it was told to “immediately demobilize” its workforce, despite significant work still left to complete.

NextStar, a $5-billion joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, says its operations remain unaffected and characterized the workforce changes as standard project adjustments. However, no clear reason was provided, leaving uncertainty about whether the layoffs are temporary.

This comes amid broader volatility in Canada’s EV sector. While the Windsor plant is expected to employ 2,500 people when fully operational, construction delays, EV market slowdowns, and U.S. tariff threats under Donald Trump have raised concerns. The federal and Ontario governments previously committed $15 billion in subsidies to keep the project on track.

For Canada’s job market, particularly in skilled trades and clean energy, this incident highlights the fragility of even high-profile green infrastructure projects—and the risks workers face in rapidly shifting global markets.

Have you been laid off by NextStar EV battery plant in Canada? Contact our employment lawyers today. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis—there are no fees unless you win your case.

Emma Loop’s original article, “Nearly 200 suddenly laid off at NextStar EV battery plant in Windsor: Contractor” was published in CBC News on June 27 2025. Read the Full CBC News story.