Dragoslav Neskovic B.Sc. Eng, MBA, PMP, DTM

There are five major auto manufacturers in Ontario, with hundreds of additional parts suppliers. With the latest announcement of a Honda EV battery plant coming to Ontario, the industrial strategy around creating an EV battery and car assembly hub is taking shape. These are the sustainable jobs of the future. I argued on CTV News Power Play that with billions of public dollars being invested there must be strings attached. We need good, fairly paid union jobs. And we need companies to make explicit commitments to respect the rights of their workers to organize. Only when public investments come with robust conditions will we build the kinds of thriving communities we want to live in.

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One of they key Q1 themes in Canadian manufacturing has been the burgeoning electric vehicle supply chain. Find out what Canadian business leaders are are saying about EV and other hot topics in the manufacturing sector.

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"We need to understand where we want the country to be, not in 2025 or 2026, but where we want it to be by 2030 or 2035.” In a recent article, The Globe and Mail met with industry leaders, such as Chris Burns of NOVONIX, to discuss Canada's push towards electric vehicles and its implications for production and employment in the supply chain industry. Dive into their conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gMc5Rmkh #Trucking #EV #ElectricVehicles #SupplyChain #Transportation

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The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association applauds measures in the 2024 federal budget aimed at supporting the transformation to electrification in the automotive industry. However, we remain concerned that the government lacks a clear plan to achieve its mandated electric vehicle (EV) sales targets. Auto manufacturers have announced over $30 billion in job-creating EV battery manufacturing and vehicle assembly investment in Canada since 2020. With record numbers of EVs coming to market, government must focus its efforts on supporting Canadians in the switch to electric. Read our statement: https://lnkd.in/ds2k7JSq #Budget2024 #cdnpoli #auto #manufacturing #EV #ZEV

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Huge news out of Ontario. Honda to build new #EV and #battery plants. Massive $15 billion #investment. 1000+ #jobs. Further anchors ON as a growing EV #manufacturing hub. Tells the world Canada’s #openforbusiness. Proves Canadians can compete to win in the global #cleaneconomy. We’re not the US but we can certainly play to our strengths and get our fair share of the trillions of investment dollars and millions of jobs that are up for grabs. Let’s keep up the momentum and get big things built in #Canada. #Economy #competitiveness #madeinCanada #ElectricVehicles #criticalminerals #mining #Onpoli #Canpoli Victor Fedeli Doug Ford Chrystia Freeland

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Success isn’t build alone 🚀 It’s the collective effort from your team that makes a company thrive 📈 This is your reminder to take a moment to recognize your team and acknowledge all of the hard work. Even a small gift card can go a long way ☀️ MYCOURIER INC. — #OakvilleOntario #BusinessMindset #PersonalGrowth #LocalEntrepreneurs #OakvilleEntrepreneurs

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The LCBO Just Disrupted Government Logistics (Who Saw That Coming?) Talk about an unexpected plot twist. The bureaucratic behemoth known as the LCBO - Ontario's state-run alcohol overlords - just pulled off a logistics power move nobody saw coming. Cue the record scratch. You're telling me what many would think of as a government dinosaur handled over 1.1 billion liters of booze last year across 680+ retail outlets...and decided to join the 21st century along the way? I'll allow it, but only because their digital glow-up is low-key genius. By rolling out an online wholesale ordering platform, the LCBO essentially flipped a giant middle finger to the clunky, error-prone processes ingrained in public sector logistics. No more faxing orders like it's 1995. No more forecasting fail that leaves cases of Chardonnay collecting dust. This bad boy automates everything. We're talking real-time inventory visibility, centralized order management, the whole nine yards of data-driven optimization. A trifecta of increased efficiency, lower costs, and tighter inventory control that would make Amazon jealous. But here's the real 'wow' factor - with all that unified sales data at their fingertips, the LCBO can now predict demand spikes and dips with startling accuracy. Predictive analytics means no more shortages when the Leafs make the playoffs and Toronto goes full sendmode. Just seamless inventory leveling across their whole provincial pipeline. For a government agency, embracing bleeding-edge supply chain tech like this is the ultimate flex. The dinosaurs adaptedwhile competitors are still huddled in their cargo shorts afraid to evolve. So props to the LCBO for this digital 'hold my beer' moment. Who said public sector logistics had to be an oxymoronic nightmare? They just issued the ultimate wakeup call for supply chain trailblazers everywhere - disrupt or be disrupted, public or private be damned. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to stock up on some of that juicy LCBO optimization...

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Empowering Ontario's Workforce: The Imperative for Training Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturing and Maintenance Operators As the world accelerates towards a greener future, Canada and particularly Ontario stand at the vanguard of the EV transformation. Ontario is committed to reducing carbon emissions, fostering sustainable transportation solutions, and becoming a manufacturing EV hub. Therefore, it is imperative prioritizing the training and education of EV Manufacturing and Maintenance operators. A Partnership among Academia, Industry, and Government is required to complete the EV Transformation which has seen more than $30 billion in new investments since 2020. The partners' capabilities: ·      Academia educates highly skilled and creative people through state-of-the-art equipment, labs, simulations, and hands on education. ·      Industry partners bring operational excellence, innovation and latest industry needs. ·      Local governments support sustainable growth and economic development. Positioning Ontario: The Government of Ontario is working hard to “position Ontario as a North American hub for developing and building the car of the future through emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing processes” (Driving Prosperity, 2022 pg .3). Ontario would like to lead in the production of EV and EV battery manufacturing. This initiative requires highly skilled workers. Meeting Industry Demand: The demand for EV is surging, with major automakers committing to electrifying their fleets. As production ramps up, there is a pressing need for skilled workers who can manufacture and assemble EVs efficiently and maintain the fleets. Driving Innovation: EVs represent a paradigm shift in automotive technology, requiring innovative approaches to manufacturing and maintenance. Ensuring Safety and Reliability: Proper training can help mitigate risks and prevent accidents, safeguarding both workers and consumers. Supporting Economic Growth: The transition to electric vehicles presents significant economic opportunities for Ontario, from job creation to the expansion of the green economy. Addressing Climate Change: Perhaps most importantly, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles is essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. In conclusion, the importance of training and educating manufacturing and maintenance operators for EV cannot be overstated. Academia, Industry, and Local Governments have a unique opportunity to lead the way in preparing the workforce for the electric vehicle transformation, driving innovation, supporting economic growth, and safeguarding the environment. #partnership academia industry and local governments #Electric Vehicle Manufacturing #Electric Vehicle Maintenance

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Of all the economic challenges that Canada faces, the barriers to internal trade are the most painful, as they are self-inflicted wounds to our prosperity. Breaking down those barriers, in all the areas they exist, should be a goal of both federal and provincial governments.

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Friends in the Industry - I am very excited about Alberta Motor Transport Association's upcoming Compliance & Regulatory Affairs meeting, which will be IN-PERSON for the first time in 2024. This meeting allows AMTA's Full Carrier Members to interact with the government and participate in critical discussions that directly impact the commercial transportation industry in Alberta and beyond. During this upcoming meeting, we will be hosting a feature panel: Transportation and Economic Corridors - Alberta's On Road Safety Performance Commercial Transportation with special guests: Assistant Deputy Minister, Lynn Varty - Traffic Safety Services Division, and three department Executive Directors: Andrew Pillman, Kristin Ward Diaz, and Lee Newton. Register now: https://ow.ly/Nx3x50RtWVE Please note, as this meeting is for AMTA's Full Carrier Members, if you are interested in learning more about the value AMTA can bring to your organization and for the opportunity to join a much larger conversation that directly impacts carriers in our province, then please feel free to reach out to me, or our team at AMTA, and we will gladly discuss. #AMTA #CarrierMembers #Partnership #IndustryLeaders #SafetyAdvocates #IndustryAdvocates #FriendsInTheIndustry #ComplianceAndRegulatoryAffairs #CRA #SuccessInTransportation #GovernmentofAlberta #GoA #SafetyMinds #IndustryImpacts Dave Elniski Rob D. Andrew Barnes Chad Albert Kristin Picken, CTSP

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Every import deserves a custom touch. Canadian Car Shipping ensures each quote is designed to fit your specific needs.

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Last week, the federal government announced a $1.7-million subsidy for a pasta manufacturer in Brampton, Ont., citing the creation of 10 jobs. This may appear insignificant compared with the tens of billions allocated to industries such as electric vehicles, but it highlights just how normalized corporate welfare has become across our economy. Under the Trudeau government, federal business subsidies have more than doubled from $17-billion in 2014 to some $40-billion today. Add to this the significant provincial contributions in recent years, such as those from the Ford government in Ontario and the Legault government in Quebec, and it’s clear that the private sector is increasingly infused with taxpayer money. This trend is problematic for several reasons. There’s the glaring issue of opportunity cost: Every dollar spent on these subsidies is a dollar not spent on public services or left in the pockets of Canadians. There’s also the regional division created by governments playing favourites to shift or preserve jobs and the risk of friction with major trading partners who might plausibly argue we are running afoul of trading rules. Most concerning, however, is how this deluge of subsidies allows governments at all levels to drown out calls for necessary policy reforms. Our anemic productivity, declining tax competitiveness and plummeting attractiveness as an investment destination are all serious challenges that are being ignored in favour of short-term political benefits. The history of Canadian corporate welfare wasn’t always this bleak. #pasta #politics #reform #canada #economy #bleak

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The #EV supply chain investment tax credit, recently announced in #Budget2024 and part of this week's Honda investment decision, is smart #industrialstrategy from the Government. It recognizes the need to incentivize linked investments up the supply chain. Without explicitly requiring Canadian content, it creates an incentive for firms to include Made-in-Canada midstream materials and #EVbattery components. This marks a shift from an earlier strategy that focused just on the downstream. While downstream manufacturing is good for employment, the margins in battery factories will be squeezed due to a glut of assembly plants globally. This investment promises to capture more durable value addition further upstream. Read more of what we had to say in this post below from the Centre for Net-Zero Industrial Policy. Bentley Allan Moe Kabbara The Transition Accelerator/ L’Accélérateur de transition Accelerate-Accélérer BMAC - Battery Metals Association of Canada

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BREAKING this morning: Here's what we know about Honda's EV investment in Ontario:

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Ontario is stepping into a new era of energy independence with the completion of the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history, set to meet our growing electricity demands through 2030. This groundbreaking initiative not only supports the province’s booming population and economy but also fuels major industries and next-gen technologies like electric vehicles. Here’s what this means for you and how we’re ensuring a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future: 1️⃣Innovative Energy Storage: With a whopping 2,195 MW capacity secured, we’re ready to power 2.2 million homes at peak demand. 2️⃣Clean and Reliable: The blend of clean energy storage and natural gas ensures stability even on extreme weather days. 3️⃣Sustainable Growth: These efforts are part of Ontario’s larger plan to reduce emissions and enhance our clean electricity grid. Stay tuned to see how Ontario is leading the charge in clean energy solutions! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g7ZsEpCc #OntarioEnergyFuture #CleanPower

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#GovernmentofCanada Invests Over $9 Million to Enable Made-in-#Canada #LithiumBattery Supply Chain in #BritishColumbia | via #prospectornews #mining #investing #investors #juniormining #commodities #Lithium #batteries

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