Two rookie prairie MPs. Two sharply different versions of the same event.
Last week, the prairie hog plant investment decisions by Maple Leaf Foods made it onto the floor of the House of Commons twice.
First up was Brandon, Man. Conservative MP Rick Borotsik, whose city won the sweepstakes to attract Maple Leaf’s $112 million investment in a new hog slaughter plant with a promised 1,150 jobs.
“Members of the House will probably be getting a bit tired of my good news Brandon stories,” beamed the former mayor. He lauded Brandon, its civic politicians and promoters, and the company.
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Two days later, it was a different story.
To build in Brandon, Maple Leaf announced closure of its aging Edmonton plant, where workers have been on strike. Edmonton East Reform MP Peter Goldring was sombre.
“One thousand jobs lost forever,” he said. “One thousand families face a bleak New Year.”
A plant has been closed. “The legacy is shattered lives that will exist long after labor brass and Maple Leaf have left town.”
He said the losers are workers and their families.
“Must labor always wield a primordial club of strike? Must management always sit resolute awaiting the blow?” Goldring asked. “Must our community always suffer in silence?” He wondered if old mistakes must be repeated, a plant closed because of a labor-management war.
“Have we not learned at last? Sadly, I fear the answer is no.”
