What Honda's historic $15B investment means for Alliston, Ont.

News of Honda's historic $15-billion deal to construct its first comprehensive electric vehicle supply chain in Ontario is rousing local residents and officials about the potential boost to business and jobs in the area.

Honda Canada announced Thursday alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford that it will build four new manufacturing plants in Ontario, including an electric vehicle assembly plant and a standalone battery manufacturing plant at its current facilities in Alliston, Ont., a small community of 23,000 residents between Toronto and Barrie.

The Japanese company already employs 4,200 people in its existing Alliston facility, but statements from Honda and both the federal and provincial governments say the facility's two new plants will produce up to 240,000 vehicles per year and create more than 1,000 "well-paying manufacturing jobs" once fully operational in 2028.

"The opportunities for the local residents are going to be absolutely staggeringly fantastic," said Richard Norcross, mayor of New Tecumseth, which is comprised of the communities of Alliston and nearby Beeton and Tottenham.

He says Honda has been a pillar of the community since the first Accord rolled off the assembly line in 1986, and said substantial donations from the company have helped the local hospital make expansions and buy new equipment.

But it's the future that excites Norcross most.

"We just secured great-paying jobs for probably the next four generations of people," added Norcross, who expects knock-on effects for the community when Honda finishes the facility overhaul.

He says roughly eight ancillary jobs are created for every plant assembly position, a statistic shared by the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association.

Ancillary jobs include work in local restaurants, shops, retail outlets and supply companies, says Norcross, adding that since the announcement, he has received texts and phone calls from community and business leaders anticipating staff increases.

Lachlan McGurk, who owns a flower and chocolate shop in historic downtown Alliston and chair of Alliston's business improvement association, shares that sentiment.

"All of those jobs spawn new jobs and new businesses to support the operations at Honda," he says.

McGurk's optimism is nevertheless guarded by some recent history.

In 2011, Ford shut down its plant in St. Thomas, a southwestern Ontario community, with thousands ultimately losing their jobs. 

Seven years later, GM announced it would shut its Oshawa Assembly Plant permanently, putting some 2,400 people out of work.