Canada
February 3, 2026
GM Canada lays off ~500 workers at Ontario plant
Written by Ethan Bernard
General Motors Canada has laid off ~500 workers at its assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario. The cuts followed the plant moving from three production shifts to two as of Monday, Feb. 2.
Unifor, a Canadian union representing auto workers, said the move came in response to President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian auto parts, which went into effect last April. GM Canada made no mention of the tariffs or Trump in its statement.
“General Motors has made a clear decision to cave to Donald Trump rather than stand up for its loyal Canadian workforce, making the workers in Oshawa pay for that appeasement with their jobs,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said on Jan. 29.
The Oshawa plant assembles light and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks.
Unifor said GM ramped up Silverado production in Fort Wayne, Ind., before announcing the elimination of the third shift in Oshawa.
GM Canada stressed it has worked closely with Unifor to support impacted employees with separation packages, retirement support, and other benefits.
The company also highlighted that preparations continue at Oshawa “to build the next generation of gas-powered full-size pickups, supported by a CA$280-million investment that reinforces Oshawa’s future in GM’s key full-size truck program.”
That investment was first announced in 2023.
GM Canada did not return a request for comment by time of publication.
(For a full description of the auto tariffs and exceptions, click here.)
