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THURSDAY JULY 25, 2019 Insurance Darryl Demille CFP, Agent 1226 White Oaks Blvd., Oakville 905-842-1020 Life's better with an agent dentistoakville.com 905-842-6030 3420 Rebecca Street, Oakville 905.469.6072 www.lakeshorewoodsdental.com Lakeshore Woods DentaL Care Southeast corner of Rebecca and Great Lakes Blvd. ✔ family dentistry ✔ teeth whitening ✔ emergency care ✔ digital xrays ✔we love ✁ with NEW Pati ent Examinat ion X-Rays and C leaning. $150.00 VALU E Expires Aug 1 5th, 2019 FREE TEETHWHITEN ING ORMOUTH GU ARD V IS IT IN SI D EH A LT O N .C O M TO E N TE R It was announced Friday (July 19) that layoffs are coming at Ford Canada's Oakville assembly plant. Manufacturing and Labor Communications Manager Kelli Felker told the Oakville Beaver that "approximately 200 people will be affected. Layoffs will begin in September. Felker added that the cuts are due to Ford's long-standing prac- tice of matching production with consumer demand. She said, "Sales of the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT are slow- ing. In addition, the Ford Edge is no longer being sold in some Eu- ropean markets, an action by the company aimed at strengthening the Ford brand and creating a sustainable profitable business in Europe." It's not yet clear on what part of the local plant will be affected. Unifor Local 707, the union which represents the Ford plant workers, was quick to react to news of the layoffs. On the union's website Local president Dave Thomas said the union was made aware of the coming layoffs on Wednesday, Ju- ly 17 with management noting they were a result of slowing sales and cost expenses. Thomas said the union was told 185 members would lose their jobs in September 2019 with a pos- sibility of additional members laid off in January 2020. "We have been arguing as a lo- cal for the past several weeks try- ing to persuade the company to somehow avoid this scenario but to no avail," said Thomas. "As always, it's based on a busi- ness decision and it all comes down to dollars and cents. Once again, our biggest concern was preserving good paying jobs and uprooting people's lives." Oakville Mayor Rob Burton LAYOFFS COMING AT FORD'S OAKVILLE PLANT DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com ROUGHLY 200 PEOPLE TO BE AFFECTED See PROVINCE, page 2 MIDNIGHT MADNESS The Fire Guy entertains crowds with his fire juggling show along Thomas Street as thousands jammed downtown Oakville to take in Midnight Madness Friday night. The annual street party takes over six blocks for free family entertainment. See more photos on page 24. Graham Paine/Torstar