OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal and Ontario governments to cut out the corporate welfare following news that Stellantis will receive $15 billion in special taxpayer treatment. 

“The feds need to draw the line somewhere because taxpayers can’t afford to bankroll everyone and their dog who wants to make batteries,” Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF, said. “It’s wrong for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to choose big corporations over struggling taxpayers and it’s wrong for the opposition leaders to sit on their hands and say nothing.”

The federal and Ontario governments are handing out about $15 billion in subsidies for Stellantis, which is the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat and Maserati, among other car companies. Ottawa is paying for two-thirds of the costs while the Ontario government is paying the remaining $5 billion. 

The CTF is calling on opposition leaders in the House of Commons to oppose the deal. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre told the CTF that he would “cut corporate welfare and use the money to lower taxes for small businesses” if elected prime minister. New Democratic Leader Jagmeet Singh says “corporate greed is out of control.”

“Small business owners and families all across Canada are working hard and paying their taxes only to see billions handed over to multinational corporations with massive profits,” Jay Goldberg, Ontario Director of the CTF, said. “The Trudeau and Ford governments are setting a terrible precedent that will encourage other companies to hold taxpayers hostage until they get their own deal from Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park.”