Hamilton-Maple Leaf plant
Posted Oct 22, 2011 07:38:04 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The new Maple Leaf Foods plant being built in Hamilton has been in the works for months. The Hamilton Spectator reports that City leaders were the last to know about the project.
This past Wednesday Hamilton’s general manager of economic development, Tim McCabe asked City Council for the first time to approve the $395 million dollar project during a closed door meeting.
McCabe and some City staff reportedly had been working on the project for months in secrecy, something McCabe says was needed to get the Council’s approval, noting that there was no doubt in his mind that this project was a win. McCabe admits that it was a bit awkward telling Council about the project, but said, “I’ll put my job on the line”, that is how much he thinks the project will work.
Council approved the project and Councillor Brenda Johnson, whose ward is the location where the new plant will be built, was the only member of Council to vote against the motion, saying that staff presented the deal too quickly. However, on Thursday in an email she said she would support the project.
The meat processing plant will create 670 new jobs, which the 200 workers from the old plant that is being closed, will get first dibs on.
