PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Tough new border security rules won’t scare American investors away from Canada, says the head of J.R. Simplot’s food processing division.
“I don’t think that if the economics are correct for locating a manufacturing or other business opportunity in Canada and it makes sense … that the current situation at the border would impede them from making that choice,” said Jim Munyon, the chief executive officer of the J.R. Simplot Food Group. He was interviewed at the Sept. 10 official opening of the company’s new potato processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man.
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“I don’t think it would stop any good economic decision.”
J. R. Simplot, who heads the company and is now in his mid-90s, sounded more bullish than cautious about investing in Canadian agriculture.
“We’re here and we’re here to stay,” said Simplot, to applause from an audience of farmers and government officials.
“And we think we’re in the best place in America (to produce and process potatoes) … I’m thinking of doubling the plant.”
Simplot began investing in potato production in Manitoba in the early 1960s.
Munyon said increased border scrutiny is understandable in the wake of the terrorist attacks that occurred almost two years to the day before the new plant opened.
“There will be more steps, more procedures that have to be observed and honoured, and we’ll have to work with government agencies to make sure they don’t impede trade,” said Munyon. “You just have to make sure it’s measured and appropriate and fair. We all need to work at that.”
He said the potential for border snags has not undermined the economic edge the Portage la Prairie plant will have over similar plants in Washington and Idaho.
“The advantage of a facility like this in Canada is to provide access to the eastern part of the U.S. market,” said Munyon.
