I just find this fascinating because usually Hamilton loses jobs to Burlington instead of the other way round. This is definitely a good sign for Hamilton's future. I'm liking Mayor Di Ianni a lot lately. Currently he's got his "Invest in Hamilton" team in China to bring investments to Hamilton.
Maple Leaf eyes Mountain
BY ANDREW DRESCHEL
Maple Leaf Foods is looking at building a giant new plant in Hamilton which will employ as many as 2,500 workers.
According to confidential sources, Canada’s largest food processor is looking at locating on a 40-hectare site in the North Glanbrook Industrial Park, near the interchange with the Linc and the future Red Hill Valley Parkway.
Lynda Kuhn, vice-president of public and investor relations at Maple Leaf, said she can’t confirm a site agreement with the city is imminent.
“We are looking at Hamilton as one possible site, that’s all I can confirm.”
But one source says if all goes well, the deal could be signed as early as next month.
Besides bringing hundreds of new jobs to the city, the plant could jumpstart other manufacturing development in the so-called employment lands, resulting in millions of dollars of new non-residential assessment for the city.
But Hamilton’s gain would be Burlington’s loss.
A new Hamilton plant means Maple Leaf would close its operations at Appleby Line, shifting the existing workforce to the Hamilton factory and eventually doubling the size of its labour force.
With about 1,300 employees, Maple Leaf’s pork processing plant in Burlington, established in 1961, is the city’s largest private sector employer and Halton region’s second largest.
Luring a big company from Burlington would be a singular change of fortune for Hamilton, which is more accustomed to watching businesses migrate rather than emigrate across the Bay.
It’s believed Hamilton has been competing heavily with Burlington, Brantford, Caledonia and Oakville to land the plant.
The city’s “Invest in Hamilton” team, which was formed last fall by Mayor Larry Di Ianni to cut through red tape and fasttrack development for potential investors, is stickhandling negotiations.
That’s the same team of staffers that put together the Lister Block proposal with LIUNA.
While talks with Maple Leaf are drawing to a conclusion, the city is waiting to hear from the provincial and federal governments about a proposal to speed up development of the Glanbrook industrial park. The proposal reportedly suggests a financial partnership which would see the three levels of government pay for servicing the entire 272-hectare park.
Sources say one of the factors in Hamilton’s favour for landing Maple Leaf is that several hundred of the company’s Burlington workers already live in Hamilton. By staying in this area, Maple Leaf will manage to hold onto its skilled workforce without major disruptions in their lives.
Di Ianni and Neil Everson, the city’s executive director of economic development, are on a trade mission in China and could not be reached.
Councillor Terry Whitehead, chair of economic development, refused to comment.
“My lips are sealed. I’m not responding one way or another.”
But Burlington Mayor Rob MacIsaac says he’s aware there are issues surrounding Maple Leaf’s Burlington location and that the company is considering alternatives.
“While we value Maple Leaf a great deal, if they go, life will go on. We’ll regret losing them a great deal but Burlington’s economy will remain strong.”
In a recent interview, Harry Sutton, regional director of United Food and Commercial Workers, said Local 175 at the Burlington plant has been told
Maple Leaf is exploring expansion options but nothing has been finalized.
Apparently one of the difficulties for Burlington is finding sufficient land to accommodate Maple Leaf’s desire to build a new state-of-the-art plant for its kill, cut, package and distribution operations.
Company spokesman Kuhn says the Burlington plant is one of the company’s two largest, the other being in Brandon, Man.
“While (Burlington) is an old facility it has a very large processing base. It processes about 45,000 hogs a week. It’s very important not only to meeting domestic markets but also international markets, including the U.S. and Japan.”
Kuhn says the company is looking at a number of strategies, including reinvesting in the existing plant or relocating part or all of the operation to a new facility.
“As part of that, the company has looked at the greater Burlington-Hamilton area as possible areas where part of that manufacturing base could be undertaken.”
“So Hamilton is definitely part of that search.”
According to the company’s website, Maple Leaf operates five pork processing plants across Canada, processing over 25,000 hogs a day or about six million hogs a year.
But this week the company announced it will build a new $110-million pork plant in Saskatoon that will create 350 new jobs.
Headquartered in Toronto, Maple Leaf employs about 23,000 workers in Canada, U.S., Europe and Asia. Its products include fresh and prepared meats, baked goods, poultry and animal feed.
Last year it had sales of $6.4 billion.
Maple Leaf eyes Mountain
BY ANDREW DRESCHEL
Maple Leaf Foods is looking at building a giant new plant in Hamilton which will employ as many as 2,500 workers.
According to confidential sources, Canada’s largest food processor is looking at locating on a 40-hectare site in the North Glanbrook Industrial Park, near the interchange with the Linc and the future Red Hill Valley Parkway.
Lynda Kuhn, vice-president of public and investor relations at Maple Leaf, said she can’t confirm a site agreement with the city is imminent.
“We are looking at Hamilton as one possible site, that’s all I can confirm.”
But one source says if all goes well, the deal could be signed as early as next month.
Besides bringing hundreds of new jobs to the city, the plant could jumpstart other manufacturing development in the so-called employment lands, resulting in millions of dollars of new non-residential assessment for the city.
But Hamilton’s gain would be Burlington’s loss.
A new Hamilton plant means Maple Leaf would close its operations at Appleby Line, shifting the existing workforce to the Hamilton factory and eventually doubling the size of its labour force.
With about 1,300 employees, Maple Leaf’s pork processing plant in Burlington, established in 1961, is the city’s largest private sector employer and Halton region’s second largest.
Luring a big company from Burlington would be a singular change of fortune for Hamilton, which is more accustomed to watching businesses migrate rather than emigrate across the Bay.
It’s believed Hamilton has been competing heavily with Burlington, Brantford, Caledonia and Oakville to land the plant.
The city’s “Invest in Hamilton” team, which was formed last fall by Mayor Larry Di Ianni to cut through red tape and fasttrack development for potential investors, is stickhandling negotiations.
That’s the same team of staffers that put together the Lister Block proposal with LIUNA.
While talks with Maple Leaf are drawing to a conclusion, the city is waiting to hear from the provincial and federal governments about a proposal to speed up development of the Glanbrook industrial park. The proposal reportedly suggests a financial partnership which would see the three levels of government pay for servicing the entire 272-hectare park.
Sources say one of the factors in Hamilton’s favour for landing Maple Leaf is that several hundred of the company’s Burlington workers already live in Hamilton. By staying in this area, Maple Leaf will manage to hold onto its skilled workforce without major disruptions in their lives.
Di Ianni and Neil Everson, the city’s executive director of economic development, are on a trade mission in China and could not be reached.
Councillor Terry Whitehead, chair of economic development, refused to comment.
“My lips are sealed. I’m not responding one way or another.”
But Burlington Mayor Rob MacIsaac says he’s aware there are issues surrounding Maple Leaf’s Burlington location and that the company is considering alternatives.
“While we value Maple Leaf a great deal, if they go, life will go on. We’ll regret losing them a great deal but Burlington’s economy will remain strong.”
In a recent interview, Harry Sutton, regional director of United Food and Commercial Workers, said Local 175 at the Burlington plant has been told
Maple Leaf is exploring expansion options but nothing has been finalized.
Apparently one of the difficulties for Burlington is finding sufficient land to accommodate Maple Leaf’s desire to build a new state-of-the-art plant for its kill, cut, package and distribution operations.
Company spokesman Kuhn says the Burlington plant is one of the company’s two largest, the other being in Brandon, Man.
“While (Burlington) is an old facility it has a very large processing base. It processes about 45,000 hogs a week. It’s very important not only to meeting domestic markets but also international markets, including the U.S. and Japan.”
Kuhn says the company is looking at a number of strategies, including reinvesting in the existing plant or relocating part or all of the operation to a new facility.
“As part of that, the company has looked at the greater Burlington-Hamilton area as possible areas where part of that manufacturing base could be undertaken.”
“So Hamilton is definitely part of that search.”
According to the company’s website, Maple Leaf operates five pork processing plants across Canada, processing over 25,000 hogs a day or about six million hogs a year.
But this week the company announced it will build a new $110-million pork plant in Saskatoon that will create 350 new jobs.
Headquartered in Toronto, Maple Leaf employs about 23,000 workers in Canada, U.S., Europe and Asia. Its products include fresh and prepared meats, baked goods, poultry and animal feed.
Last year it had sales of $6.4 billion.