Concord plant closing
By Kim Zarzour
April 5, 2010
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, PC critic for economic development, blamed the Liberal budget for driving jobs out of the region.
In Question Period Thursday, he accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of making Ontario too expensive for companies to continue to operate in the Thornhill riding.
"What the premier continues to fail to acknowledge is that his high taxes, massive deficit and soaring energy costs give companies like Crown Metal Packaging more than enough reasons to close some of their operations in Ontario," said Mr. Shurman.
Concord plant closing
By Kim Zarzour
April 5, 2010
Crown Metal Packaging in Concord has announced it will permanently close its doors by the end of the year.
The closure of the Keele Street facility, which manufactures metal cans, closures and boxes, will affect 159 employees.
Workers were told about the shut-down on Tuesday, according to Michael Dunleavy, vice-president of corporate affairs and public relations at the company's headquarters in Philadelphia.
The closure will take place in stages, Mr. Dunleavy said, and be completed by December. The building itself will likely be sold.
The company cited difficult economic times and a decline in business.
"It's been a great facility, we've got good employees who worked hard to make the plant economically viable. We've been trying to work to get costs under control but the economics are just not there.
"We're just not selling as many cans. Our customers are suffering under difficult economic conditions and that reduces our volume to the point where it's uneconomical to keep the plant open."
Mr. Dunleavy said the company met one-on-one with employees and unions. "We'll be working to see if there are other jobs at other facilities for them."
Crown Metal closed five other plants in Canada, including one in Winnipeg and another in Montreal, earlier this year, he said.
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, PC critic for economic development, blamed the Liberal budget for driving jobs out of the region.
In Question Period Thursday, he accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of making Ontario too expensive for companies to continue to operate in the Thornhill riding.
"What the premier continues to fail to acknowledge is that his high taxes, massive deficit and soaring energy costs give companies like Crown Metal Packaging more than enough reasons to close some of their operations in Ontario," said Mr. Shurman.
The company's spokesperson, however, disagreed.
"It has nothing to do with that," Mr. Dunleavy said. "We have good relations with Canada and the government has been reasonable to work with. I'm not aware of any issues in that regard.
"It's always a sad time when we have to close a facility - particularly one that has been in the family for a long time and has good employees."
Crown Metal Packaging employees 24,055 workers at 155 manufacturing plants in 42 countries. The company took over the site from Continental Can in 1990. The company operates four other plants in Canada: Calgary, Chatham, Weston and St. Laurent.