Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, and Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and PC Agriculture Critic, called on Premier Dalton McGuinty today to help save the jobs of nearly 300 plant workers at CanGro Foods Inc. and the livelihoods of countless farmers in Niagara.

MPP Tim Hudak and MPP Ernie Hardeman (right) have called on Premier McGuinty to protect the jobs of CanGro workers and Ontario soft fruit growers.CanGro Foods Inc., which owns fruit and vegetable processing plants in St. Davids in Niagara and Exeter in south-western Ontario, announced Tuesday it will have to close its doors and put nearly 300 people out of work if it can not find a buyer for the plants by March 31, 2008. The plant closures, however, will affect far more than the plant employees, Hudak and Hardeman warned.

“Much like the closure of the Cadbury Schweppes plant this summer in St. Catharines – which created a crisis among Niagara’s juice grape growers – the closure of the CanGro plant in Niagara will also send a ripple effect through the local agriculture industry, where many local farmers supply produce to the plant,” Hudak and Hardeman wrote in a co-signed letter to the Premier.

The two PC MPPs called on McGuinty to assign his Ministers of Economic Development and Trade and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to meet with company officials and take all appropriate measures to see that the jobs are saved and the delicate balance of Niagara’s agriculture industry is not disrupted.

“As a Niagara MPP, I know the closure of the St. Davids plant would no doubt throw the local agriculture industry out of balance,” the letter said. “Should one element of this delicate balance be removed, it would throw the entire industry into turmoil resulting in further job losses, economic dislocation and reduction in agricultural production.”

Hudak and Hardeman's letter to Premier McGuinty:

January 10, 2008

Hon. Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
Rm 281, Main Legislative Building
Queen’s Park, Toronto ON
M7A 1A4

Dear Premier McGuinty,

We are writing to request your immediate response to an urgent matter that is threatening the livelihoods of nearly 300 plant workers and countless other farmers and soft fruit growers in Ontario.

CanGro Foods Inc., which owns plants that process canned fruits and vegetables in St. Davids in Niagara and Exeter in south-western Ontario, announced this week it will have to close its doors and put nearly 300 people out of work if it can not find a buyer for the plants by March 31, 2008. CanGro officials said Ontario is a high cost jurisdiction and it would be more cost effective to outsource the work.

Much like the closure of the Cadbury Schweppes plant this summer in St. Catharines – which created a crisis among Niagara’s juice grape growers – the closure of the CanGro plant in Niagara will also send a ripple effect through the local agriculture industry, where many local farmers supply produce to the plant.

As the PC agriculture critic and a Niagara MPP, we know the closure of the St. Davids plant would no doubt throw the Niagara agriculture industry out of balance. No matter which fruit they grow – be it grapes, apples, pears or other soft fruit – farmers grow specific amounts for processing and for the fresh market. Should one element of this delicate balance be removed, it would throw the entire industry into turmoil resulting in further job losses, economic dislocation and reduction in agricultural production. The loss of the Exeter site would certainly have similar negative repercussions for their local economy and farming community.

Premier, as you can see, there’s far more at stake here than the loss of two manufacturing plants. We kindly ask that you assign Economic Development and Trade Minister Pupatello and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Dombrowsky to immediately liaise with company officials and take all appropriate measures to see these jobs are saved and the delicate balance of Niagara’s agriculture industry is not disrupted.

In closing, please accept our best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak, MPP
Niagara West-Glanbrook
and
Ernie Hardeman, MPP
Oxford