Ontario is investing up to $81 million in the Ford Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ont., an investment expected to retain more than 700 jobs over five years.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan and Sandra Pupatello, minister of economic development and trade, made the announcement in Windsor on Friday.

The Canadian Auto Workers Union, which represents the workers, said it amounts to a reshuffle of jobs. Of the 700 jobs, 380 will be moved over from another plant in Windsor, Dan Cassady, CAW, Local 200, told CBC News.

The government's investment in the Ford engine plant in Windsor will help create and retain jobs. (Craig Glove/Canadian Press)

The announcement comes less than two months after Ford Motor Co. announced it would build its new engines for the 2011 Mustang GT at the Essex engine plant in Windsor.

Production was scheduled to begin Feb. 1 with about 300 employees working a single shift. Canadian Autoworkers Local 200, representing the workers, said those employees would be recalled from the 991 Ford workers that were on layoff in Windsor.

Friday's investment comes in addition to $16.8 million the province put into the plant in March 2008. That money, along with an $80-million commitment from the federal government and a $590-million investment by Ford, helped re-open the plant, which had been mothballed a few months before in Nov. 2007.

About 900 people were put out of work after the shutdown of the plant, which at that time produced V-6 engines.

Friday also saw Ford invest $155 million in its fuel-efficient engines, and add 60 new jobs with upgrades at its plant in Cleveland.