For Immediate Release:
November 5, 2010
Queens Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett made a second attempt in the Ontario Legislature at warning of the economic impact if government fails to react to planned Smucker’s closures in Delhi and Dunnville.
Barrett was granted a late show debate after filing his notice of dissatisfaction for answers to questions in the Legislature Monday in which he asked for updates on government action in the wake of Smucker’s announced plans to shut down its Delhi tank farm and Dunnville processing.
“Yesterday, I felt I received little but misdirection. There were some boasts of government investment when I asked about government inaction,” Barrett began. “In Delhi, we are talking about the possible end of a state-of-the-art, 73-acre tank farm established in 1998 by US-based Robin Hood Multifoods. It has 600 vats.”
“In fact, when Smucker-Bick’s bought the holdings of Robin Hood in 2006, the investment just in Delhi was worth about $12 million – It meant an awful lot more to the offshore local farm workers, many of them Mexican and German Mennonite,” Barrett reported. “Thanks to that bridge that cucumbers provide between asparagus and strawberries earlier in the summer, it takes you through to the tobacco and apple season… the tank farm provided contracts for 200 growers.”
Barrett went on to describe the impact in Haldimand County.
“According to the Dunnville Chronicle, the processing there employs up to 260 full-time and part-time employees, and this does not include numerous farmers who provided product for a facility that’s 385,000 square feet,” noted Barrett. “This was the last major industry Dunnville had – it’s the largest employer in the county after Imperial Oil, OPG and US Steel.
“We have concern with respect to US Steel—I’ll be talking about that in a few minutes. And we know that this government will be eliminating 600 jobs at Nanticoke OPG.”
“Smucker’s is planning to close down these local facilities and their related jobs, as well as a jam and jelly facility in Ste. Marie, Quebec, while the company—and this is a familiar tune—plans to expand processing in Orrville, Ohio, and in Ripon, Wisconsin. I understand that much of our local agricultural activity will be moving to Wisconsin in the year 2012.”
Barrett concluded by repeating his earlier questions regarding government action.
“My question, as I indicated earlier, is a request for this government to pick up the phone,” Barrett implored. “Again, the concern, the question: What progress is being made with respect to this? Where are we on this file? Is anybody trying to pull things together?”
– 30 –
For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629
Plant Closure
The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The member for Haldimand–Norfolk has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to a question by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The member for Haldimand–Norfolk: You have up to five minutes.
Mr. Toby Barrett: Yesterday, I felt I received little but misdirection. There were some boasts of government investment when I asked about government inaction on the closure of the Smucker’s cucumber tank farm in Delhi and Bick’s processing operation in Dunnville.
The decision by the J.M. Smucker Co. of Orrville, Ohio, to close these operations means an end to hundreds of full-time positions and hundreds more part-time and seasonal employment. In Delhi, we are talking about the possible end of a state-of-the-art, 73-acre tank farm established in 1998 by US-based Robin Hood Multifoods. It has 600 vats. They can brine 60,000 pounds of cucumbers. It’s one of the most modern tank farms in North America. I attended the grand opening not that many years ago with a former ag minister, Noble Villeneuve.
Its value is unquestioned. In fact, when Smucker-Bick’s bought the holdings of Robin Hood in 2006, the investment just in Delhi was worth about $12 million. It meant an awful lot more to the offshore local farm workers, many of them Mexican and German Mennonite. They enjoy steady employment. Thanks to that bridge that cucumbers provide between asparagus and strawberries earlier in the summer, it takes you through to the tobacco and apple season. There’s going to be a month-long gap right in the middle of the summer season. The tank farm provided contracts for 200 growers. No more contracts. Presently, it’s estimated that they provide farm employment for about 300 seasonal workers.
Meanwhile, over in Haldimand county, where Bick’s consolidated its vegetable processing in Dunnville after closing down production in Scarborough—that was in 2001. According to the Dunnville Chronicle, the processing there employs up to 260 full-time and part-time employees, and this does not include numerous farmers who provided product for a facility that’s 385,000 square feet. This was the last major industry Dunnville had. It’s the largest employer in the county after Imperial Oil, OPG and US Steel. We have concern with respect to US Steel—I’ll be talking about that in a few minutes. And we know that this government will be eliminating 600 jobs at Nanticoke OPG.
It seems to be a recurring theme. Smucker’s is planning to close down these local facilities and their related jobs, as well as a jam and jelly facility in Ste. Marie, Quebec, while the company—and this is a familiar tune—plans to expand processing in Orrville, Ohio, and in Ripon, Wisconsin. I understand that much of our local agricultural activity will be moving to Wisconsin in the year 2012.
There was a letter to the editor of the Dunnville Chronicle. A fellow named Jon Sims-Davies indicates that pickles from India are being promoted at $1.49 a jar while domestically produced Bick’s sit on the shelf at $3.49. He talks at length about concerns with respect to hygiene and quality.
J.M. Smucker will be closing down the Dunnville vegetable processing and the Delhi tank farm by the end of next year. We’re concerned about the Obama buy-America policy, whether this is somewhat behind this: driving investment and driving jobs south.
My question, as I indicated earlier, is a request for this government to pick up the phone. I made mention of this in the Legislature on September 30 and tried to make it very clear the devastation this will have in the Dunnville and Delhi area. Farmers in Delhi produce not only cucumbers but also, for Smucker’s, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, beets, onions.
Again, the concern, the question: What progress is being made with respect to this? Where are we on this file? Is anybody trying to pull things together? There’s great potential for a new facility—