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LOCAL NEWS View comments (48) | View latest comment |   Local News RSS Feed
Last updated at 1:10 AM on 07/11/09  

Help may be on the way for Cavendish Farms print this article
WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian

The P.E.I. government is not ruling out financial help to the Irving-owned Cavendish Farms in an effort to avoid rolling shutdowns next year.
Cavendish Farms confirmed Thursday it will shut down their Prince Edward Island and U.S. plants for two weeks in November and December and will have rolling shutdowns throughout 2010 in an effort to cut production. The New Annan-based company says the global recession has cut demand for frozen french fries particularly in the U.S.
Innovation Minister Allan Campbell says the province may consider providing training money for the workers of Cavendish Farms to keep their cheques rolling in even during the shutdown. He said that may help mitigate their losses.
That money would come from the Labour Market Agreement, which could provide training dollars to help Cavendish Farms improve productivity or adapt to changing markets. 
“In every crisis I’ve got to look for an opportunity,” Campbell told The Guardian.
“There may be an opportunity here and that opportunity is around some training assistance.”
Cavendish Farms expects to be shut down for about 35 days over the next six months or about seven weeks.
Greg Donald, general manger of the P.E.I. Potato Board, said Island farmers are also concerned about the impact a downturn at Cavendish Farms may have on their industry.
About 60 per cent of the potatoes grown in P.E.I. go to the processing market. That includes McCains and a handful of potato chip makers, but Cavendish Farms is by far the largest potato buyer.
“They are one of the most significant customers for the potato growers on P.E.I.,” Donald said.
“So certainly if they are experiencing challenges it also affects the growers that sell to them.”
Potato farmers are already experiencing slow markets.
While potato production is down in Canada, it is way up in the U.S., particularly in Idaho.
The recession has also cut demand for french fries in the world’s largest market, the U.S., and that means difficult times ahead for Island potato farmers.
Conservative Industry critic Mike Currie is also fearful Island farmers may pay a price for the shutdowns at Cavendish Farms.
He described the planned rolling shutdown as a “serious situation” that needs to be addressed.
“Every day that plant is shut down it’s four million pounds of potatoes that are not processed,” said Currie.
“The fear out there is that side of it may be pushed over to the tablestock and further depress prices.”
Cavendish Farms is P.E.I.’s largest private-sector employer. It employs about 800 workers and some 550 employees will be impacted by the rolling closures. 
The first closure takes place Nov. 20-27.
Campbell said Cavendish Farms is a huge player in P.E.I.’s economy and a downturn at the french fry maker will have a huge impact on the province’s economy.
“It’s certainly a reflection of not necessarily how the economy is doing here in P.E.I.,” said Campbell.
“We’re not necessarily masters of our own destiny here. We’re definitely affected by the situation that exists in the U.S.”


wthibodeau@theguardian.pe.ca

07/11/09  


Comments:
This Conversation is Moderated. What is moderation?

mike from blooming pt writes: They don't need any handouts. They run by supply and demand, right now demand is down, so they are doing what is necessary. The Irvings are rich because they know how to run a business. Maybe our governments could take a few lessons.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 7:19 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
seth from charlottetown, pei writes: This is so typical of government [socialist] thinking. Keep producing unwanted goods and train people to do it faster so the unsold goods can stack up faster.

Message to Ghiz - they have to be sold. That is the problem, not production.

That does not mean the government cannot be of help. Perhaps, less money good be more productively spent getting the processors together an sending a sales team out in search of new buyers. Maybe Asia. The Chinese have all the Yankee dollars. Could they be induced to part with some for potato products? I don't know.

But the problem is not on the input side, it is on the output. They have to sold and increasing production is the wrong end of the chain to be tinkering with. If you up sales the jobs issue will take care of itself. I am sure the companies are doing all that they can, but a bit of help in broadening their horizons may be needed. An overflowing warehouses is not a good result of a taxpayer infusion. A busy shipping department is.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 7:29 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
ron b from charlottetown, pei writes: What type of cowboys do we have running this province!!! This is just a slow down during these economic times. Did you not here the Irving spokesman comments. These are our tax dollars that you guys just want to toss around. If this province is so rich try lowering our taxes. I know one thing Ill be telling my kids when they are old enough to get of this island if they want to get ahead in life. SO TO THE POLITICIANS OF THIS PROVINCE THINK BEFORE YOU START BLOWING AWAY OUR MONEY.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 7:39 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
James Mcgoo from Lakesdie, PEI writes: It is proper for the government to focus efforts on the impact of these rolling closures on workers and farmers. Training programs and assistance packages for workers and farmers should be the focus of the efforts.

Dollars to assist Cavendish Farms efforts to increase productivity and adapt to changing markets should not be forthcoming or a priority of government. It is the responsibility of company management and leadership to address these issues. The only way taxpayer dollars should be considered for productivity or new markets is if the company builds facilities and hires workers locally to address these issues.

Tough times for everyone. We can't have businesses using the government as their primary source of relief.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 7:46 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Charlie from Prince Edward Island writes: If, as Cavendish states, the market has contracted, due to the recession, what will we do with all these extra french fries that don't have a home anyway. Going down this road is not a good idea for many reasons.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:02 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
S G from PEI writes: Did Campbell actually make this statement or is it a Typo?

(It’s certainly a reflection of not necessarily how the economy is doing here in P.E.I.,” said Campbell.)
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:07 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
oh please from PEI writes: Cavendish Farms is owned by one of the largest, richest, most profitable companies in Canada. Why should my tax dollars subsidize them? If there's a demand problem, throwing my money at the problem isn't going to fix it. Bad enough the Irvings get subsidized loans (at least they'll pay those back). I'm too small for the government to throw money to me when my sales are down. And I'm not connected enough to have gotten in on the PNP gravy train. Enough is enough.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:16 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Barry from Montague, PEI writes: surprise surprise! What choice will the PEI gov have here! Dont help out Cavendish and farmers and workers screaming in your ear and hand them some money and taxpayers yelling at you. All Cavendish Farms has to do any time is cry poor and along comes the government hand out. What choice does gov have?Cavendish farms employs so many people Government can ill afford to see the plant close! Either way the Irvings win the way I see it.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:16 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Had it with chips from p.e.i. writes: If the p.e.i. government is even thinking of giving out money for training to help that is working full time there has to be something wrong. If a small company was forced to shut down part time and let there help stay home I am sure there would be no help. As far as chips go they know there is new replacement on the market all the time that is more healthy.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:39 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
unknown from PEI writes: These Irving people are billionaires and they do not need any funding at all. Allan Campbell should wake up as he is not the one who worked there as i know this because i used to work there and don't worry Mr.Irving are billionairs and they do not need funding as they might be loosing money a little but they are far from being broke or need any funding. Allan Campbell should wake up and smell the coffee and help the real people namely the farmers and fisherman and the needy families.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:42 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
shurting from Charlottetown, PE writes: What the h---??? Why should the taxpayers of PEI bail out the Irvings ?They have already received untold loans and grants from this goverment totalling in the millions this year. Let them take a small cut their profits. Our deficit is high enough!
Posted 07/11/2009 at 9:17 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
wog from prince edward island writes: Wow..help for the little ol' Irving's huh? Really shows you who's the straight man and who's the comedy relief here. What a joke.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:03 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
This is so from typical of PEI Government, LaLaLand writes: Why do they need training money for that short amount of time? They are doing what a responsible business should do to tighten its belt, and what is governments reaction??

Give them money. Pathetic.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:04 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Ivan from PEI writes: Giving public $$ to one of the wealthiest families on the face of the planet? Yeah, that's a good idea.

I think the Waltons (of WalMart) also need a handout.

Those single parents who can't pay their rent can make do on their own.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:10 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Donna from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Is the Ghiz government stark, raving mad?!! They're considering - quote - giving money to Irving which could provide training dollars to help Cavendish Farms improve productivity or adapt to changing markets - unquote. The Irving empire needs government financial assistance?? How absurd!

The Irving empire's paramount goal is to maximize net profit. They have the means and the will to do it. If shut downs are indicated, then we can believe it's Irving's last resort. Irving does not willingly give up profit potential.

Shut downs are devastating for affected employees, but this arrogant government should not stumble once again, with taxpayer dollars, into areas they do not understand. Better to subsidize the laid-off workers until Irving can once again return to making money, which is their primary, overriding objective.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:14 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Quiet Observer from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Hmmm, has Irving figured out that if everyone else is getting government financial help that maybe they can find a way to get some too?

If my business, that employs 7 people, complains of a slowdown is anyone going to help me? Maybe I, or my employees can get some government money that will help my bottom line. NOT LIKELY.

Why does government feel it necessary to jump in whenever high profile businesses wimper yet proceed to ignore the small businesses out there.

All businesses deserve fair treatment.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:14 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Ticked Off Taxpayer from Stratford, pei writes: Here we go again. The Irvings knock at the door and the knee jerk reaction is to acquiesce then try to justify throwing tax payers money at one of the wealthiest families in the country.

It's not clear from the article what the money will be used for. To train workers. To do what? Help CF improve productivity or adapt to changing markets? What kind of gobbledygook is that? The current problem doesn't seem yo be a need to increase productivity, rather to decrease it. And all employers have to adjust to changing markets. That doesn't mean government should give handouts.

Enough already. Our tax dollars can be put to better use than this.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 11:08 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Question? from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Is there no market for those prize-winning PEI potatoes shown at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto?

Is Cavendish trying to promote the product or are they simply interested in (industrial) French fries?

Something tells me we are missing the (non-gravy) boat.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 11:09 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
wog from prince edward island writes: Ok, I've composed myself now. This story really highlights who is running the show here. It shows who has the power here. Its governments role to provide a healthy atmosphere to encourage business to thrive. Sometimes that involves assistance, tax breaks or whatever. But throwing money at the wealthiest family in the maritimes when they have a downturn is a joke. The Irvings know full well how to run their business, and they obviously know how to play the provincial government like a deck of cards.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 11:56 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
sandy MacKay from Hope River, pei writes: Well that is what happens when one firm gets so large as we have seen in Ontario with the car industry or we saw years ago with the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. We should be looking at ways to get something on the market that is healthy because if we could develop a healthy potatoe the market would be a boom. Everyone is looking for ways to be more healthy and that is why there is a reduction of the use of french fries but the potatoe by itself is not unhealthy. If we could show weight loss and healthy life style with a potato all Islanders will be winners.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 12:09 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
NonLiberal Fan from PEI writes: 1. From all this, Cavendish Farms or the Irvings have never asked for assitance and don't require assistance. br 2. It is a simple business decision, no sales, no work. br 3. Cavendish has the best trained and productive people on PEI. br 4. All the liberal government is doing is trying to gain political points, but all they are doing is making themselves look as naive as they really are. br 5. Mr. Campbell doesn't know how to run a business himself, so how can he tell others how to do it, especially the Irvings.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 12:36 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
S G UNBELIEVABLE! from PEI writes: Training dollars for Cavendish Farms???
If Campbell wants to put out Training Dollars maybe the Government should get them after that statement!!

I'm quite sure Cavendish Farms/Irving don't need training in Business Management or Productivity! Most Billionaires are experts in those fields!!

If Government wants to help the Employees during the rolling closures of a week at a time here's a Suggestion! Use your Clout to devise the means of allowing these employees to Draw UI for a week at a time while laid off! Maybe even up their percentage of UI earnings!
That's areas where the Government should be involved not in Cavendish Marketing and Productive Techniques!

(“In every crisis I’ve got to look for an opportunity,” Campbell told The Guardian. ) REALLY?? (I'VE) Shouldn't it be (WE) Mr. Campbell?

I'm hoping you meant, look for an Opportunity to HELP LAID OFF WORKERS not Cavendish Farms who are more astute in the Operation of their Empire than our Government is !!! Help our Islanders who are going to be missing a paycheque! And our Farmers who have Product their not able to sell! Not the Company that has to close hence keeping Islanders and Farmers from getting paid!

Cavendish Farms will recover! Companies that have been in a Productive Business all these years know how to deal with such issues!
Posted 07/11/2009 at 12:42 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
ed from charlottetown, pei writes: Here we go again...Cavendish holds it's employees at ransom and our Gov't jumps in with taxpayers dollars to bail them out. I feel bad for the employees but Cavendish Farm's market is supply and demand and the markets are on the downslide so I say to you ride out the storm like all other companies have to do.How come we don't see McCain's plant in Albany running to the Gov't for more.are they not in the same business? Maybe if the Gov't is going to throw money at Cavendish Farms, then maybe they should look at saving Cabinetmaster are Mr.Fitzpatrick's employees any less important then those at Cavendish Farms.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 12:47 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
seth from charlottetown, pe writes: The potato processors have equipment, know how and distribution chains. The Island has unsold potato, unsold beef, unsold pork. unsold fish, etc. Perhaps a pilot program for frozen Island dinners might make sense. Of course, all the PNP millions have already gone down an unknown hole. But maybe some seed money could be directed to a firm or two to develop a more sophisticated line of food products. But the emphasis has to be on selling the stuff.

How about a line of potato vodkas? Wasn't there a start up distiller some time back? The best vodka is potato vodka, the best potatoes are PEI potatoes, ergo the best vodka in the world is PEI vodka. I am available as taster, days, evenings and overtime as needed.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 12:54 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
S. Graham from Winfield, AB. writes: here we go again, the irvings getting another hand out. it was just a few months ago that they were looking for a hand out, did they get it then?. i think nearly all that can be said in the above comments have been expressed, who and how many govt. insiders will benefited in the long run from this, as well as the irvings ?. the p.e.i. govt. needs to lower taxes, to benefit all.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 1:06 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Poor Irvings from Charlottetown, pei writes: Unbelievable! Our provincial taxes are near the highest in Canada and we are going to give taxpayers money to one of the richest families in Canada. Why not make that announcement when it happens at the Soup kitchen. See how those hungry people feel.

I have two sons, quite young who have moved out to Calgary because there is no future here for them. When you see gov't handing out money like this I can see my son's reasoning even clearer.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 1:16 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
I am sick of this crap from PE writes: We are getting robbed blind.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 1:52 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
IS THIS REAL from PE writes: Mr. Campbell. Cavendish Farms has asked for nothing from the Government.
Nor have the asked for you assistance in training. The have very effective training
plans of their own. I realize that this is had for a politician to understand but it is called SUPPLY AND DEMAND. If you cannot sell your product you must cut back production. I know that the Government will never get the grasp of this concept and keep trying to throw money at the problem as in the past with other ventures on PEI.
Mr. Campbell, look at youself in the mirror and repeat I KNOW NOTHING I KNOW NOTHING. Stop throwing away taxpayers dollars where they are not needed nor wanted and use the old adage
LEAD, FOLLOW, or GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 2:09 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
sjj jen from chtown, p.e.i. writes: this is nothing more than a joke, so the workrs will miss a few days work, now they can go hunting without phoning in sick. wake up ghiz the tax payer that pay's your wages has had enough of your looking after your rich friends. maybe mr ghiz you should get a real job and try and live on p.e.i. with its high taxs/huge prices in the food chain's/and supporting 26 mla's and a priemier who has never had to know what hard times are. shame on you.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 2:29 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Jenny from Charlottetown, PE writes: I have now seen it all. So I guess depending on the company is when the government steps in to help them out. We have recently seen the closure of a company whose work relied on the US market and they had to close the doors due to the slumping economy. What makes Cavendish Farms any more important than Cabinetmasters? Are the employee's of Cabinetmasters any less important than the employee's of Cavendish Farms. Where was the government when Cabinetmasters was closing the doors?
Posted 07/11/2009 at 3:33 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
To Jenny from PE writes: I did not hear a peep about Cabinetmasters. Must have missed it.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 7:34 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
MR Tazer Sucks from PE writes: Did anyone think to ask the employees what they thought before you all jumped onto the attack everything wagon. I know if I was an employee at one of these places and I was going to be laid off for a week here and a week there, well I'ld be pretty d@m happy, week off with which you can claim EI. Oh Yea paid vacation.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 8:22 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Please Give from pe writes: Please give generously. This organization gives till it hurts. Its employees are actually not workers but kept-ones of the 'Cavendish-benefactors'...apparently. Perhaps, though we would have to ask Mary-Jean and J.D. et. al., but perhaps it is in fact a non-profit organization created for the benefit of PEI.

Can someone look into this and report back? Surely a Billionaire somewhere can help Cavendish Farms out with their mentorship of PEI.........?
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:33 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
David from PEI writes: If the Government plans on subsidizing fries it should be done for the rinks too... rink fries are fantastic
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:35 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Wayne MacKinnon from Marshfield, P.E.I. writes: Island taxpayers can not afford to be involved in funding any businesses. Our economy is too small.

We need to invest in education for our future generations, then and only then will we attract businesses looking for a well educated population to supply the skill sets required for a successful business to operate.

We need farmers producing food for our local consumption so our economy can be self-sustainable.

We neeed to diversify into other crops that are less harmful to our environment, as well as reduce health problems in our growing families.

We do not need to fear the future, if we make the correct choices now.

Our deficit is too large and our choices will become more limited if we grow the deficit too large. Services families rely on will cost more or disappear all together.

Lets not panic here,we can not mortgage the future throwing good money after bad money.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
nitpicker from Charlottetown, PEI writes: What makes Cavendish Farms more important than CabinetMasters asks Jenny?

a) Potatoes happen to be a sizeable export on PEI
b) They are the largest private sector employer on the Island.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 10:50 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Liberal farce from PEI writes: this makes perfect sense.

I make $30,000/year. The Irvings make $30 million/year.

Why wouldn't I pay taxes so the government can steal from the poor and give to the rich?

I'm sure the Irving family needs a new solid gold statue more than my family needs food anyway.
Posted 07/11/2009 at 11:44 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
here we go again from west ender, pei writes: Well I'm not surprised at all by all the negative comments from the peanut gallery!! I suppose most of these are from tax dodgers and people that only work 3-4 months out of the year. The whole lot of you together probably don't pay the amount of taxes that 1 employee from Cavendish Farms. If you would put your mind in gear and your mouth in neutral and read what is written. The government is assisting the employees not the Irvings!!! If the employees lose money the whole area loses money. Do any of you pea brains realize how much money the employees of Cavendish Farms put into the Island economy. All I can say is thank God the Irvings are as successful as they are because the Maritime Provinces would be lost without them. So stop your whining and if you care so much about your tax dollars and the Island get off your buts and stop being so negative all the time and take a page out of the Irving work ethics and may just maybe you'll be successful too!!!
Posted 07/11/2009 at 11:51 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
not surprised himiliated from new annan, pei writes: I think Campbell is just putting the Irvings off,he couldn't be serious.All Irving needs to do is sell wisely and stop trying to push everyone else out of the market by slashing market prices. Everyone is wise to them by now I'd think
Posted 08/11/2009 at 8:03 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
James from PEI writes: Iam a small business on PEI that closes from Nov till Mar. with a small injection of cash from the goverment i would be more than willing to stay open it would be far less that the Irvings want.A case of fries comes in the door at $36.00/CS the farmer get 5--10cents a pound lets go high 30lbs x10=$3.00 you do the math i think Cavendish Farms will be ok Mr Ghiz.I am quite sure they did receive PNP funding also .Also Mr Ghiz no inquiry please into the PNP funds the people will find out soon enough watch the business in your communitys that go under they are surving on the funds they got or they will bail out like the grocery & market stores in Charllotetown & whats the first thing out of there mouth the goverment needs to help more.So to all the people beware in your communitys when a small business goes under more than likely got funding.
Posted 08/11/2009 at 8:03 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Michael Nesbitt from Miscouche, PE writes: I don't know what the closed-room talk is. The original story had Cavendish Farms indicating they would be talking to the government. WHY? This story has the government considering assisting Cavendish Farms. WHY?
Training assistance for employees who are off for one shift-cycle (3 or 4 days, depending on the pay period), every couple of months, are not going to effectively attend any training option.
And training for what, exactly? Call centre jobs, like the government recently supported to the tune of several hundred-thousand dollars and wage subsidies in Bedeque? A post in the Service Canada job bank listed Bedeque call centre jobs at minimum-wage levels!
Perhaps they can be trained for Testori manufacturing positions? In the range of $9.50/hr for 45 hours per week, and didn't the government recently give Testori more money for ... who knows what?
Maybe the workers could take on Christmas-season retail work: $8.50+/hr.
Maybe they could get in on the late potato harvest jobs, handling 100-lb sacks of potatoes for $10/hr.($20,000/year if it was a permanent job).
Yes, there are well-paid jobs on P.E.I., mainly government, unionized jobs, but even those have issues with wage-appropriateness.
There are well-paid, private sector jobs as well, but even those are paid significantly less than in other parts of the country... that's why the companies set up here.
Maybe temporarily laid-off workers could be trained as potential MLAs? The 20-odd weeks-a-year House schedule reflects the Island way, and it's well paid at a base rate of $62,500 (a little over $30/hr if they put in 40-hour weeks) (2007) plus health, dental, pension, group insurance, life insurance benefits fully covered. Yeah, they do have to deal with committee work on their off-days, and with constituents, like me, all the time, but....
Oh, extras for committee work or elevated position in the hierarchy (no pun intended).
The problem with this whole situation, from my perspective, is that little seems to directed towards improving the circumstances of the lowest paid in our society, while the well-paid seem to be advancing faster and faster, ever-widening the gap.
Basic, no-contest bills keep advancing, like property taxes (don't even think of mentioning to ME about any nonsense FREEZE!), IWMC charges, electricity rates, because-we-exist charges from the phone and electric companies (at least I have dispensed with the phone co. on that one), internet service (I recently had a $1 increase in service fees - the second in 2 years - and a company call-center rep phoned to offer ways of saving me money, hahaha), government service fees rising, septic draining costs rising because of new rules... and the list goes on.
Grocery prices have gone up noticably in the last year. (Price war in the news earlier this year? That's a joke, right?), housing prices have jumped noticeably in the last five years (perhaps from all the megalopolis retirees moving down here), and even the cost of coffee-shop addiction is eating into the income.
A friend of mine - yes, I have friends - says that we all have a choice and our situations are ours by that choice.
We shouldn't complain, because we are choosing to accept what we are offered.
In the case of government assistance to big business, we are responsible for what they do. We vote them in - it doesn't seem to matter what colour they are, because it all comes down to the color of power and money - and we vote them out to let another crew have the same chance at the trough.
My sympathy and empathy for the affected Cavendish employees caught in the crossfire on this one; they are not much better off than the rest of the low-end wage earners, even if they are unionized. Our anger and dismay is not directed at them, only at the power brokers and our folly at accepting the politics-first priorities of the ones we elect to act on our behalf.
I just can't imagine how the government expects to get ahead providing subsidies to low-wage companies. It is certainly not going to do so on the income taxes paid, and it doesn't see enough of a return on spending when a significant amount of that is done in cash to avoid paying taxes; low-income consumers need to maximize every dollar they've got.
Oh, Merry Christmas. Perhaps Santa Clause will bring us the solution.
Posted 08/11/2009 at 1:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Eric Birt from Vancouver, British Columbia writes: Transplanted Islander Suggests sending the good spuds out this way. The dense sticky crap they call a potato out here in BC would sicken any Maritimer. I eat rice now for the lack of a Good Superior or Kenabec to be found in the west. Get of your asses sales teams and move the Islands products west.
Posted 08/11/2009 at 3:55 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Laveta F from Souris, P E I writes: I say BIG DEAL , cavendish farms shuts down for a wk at different times , SO Agrawest in souris is another Potato plant and last year there was wks Off too , there was no media about that So I like to know what the BIG Deal is about
Posted 08/11/2009 at 4:23 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
Juke Streudel from Charlottetown, PEI writes: The Ghiz government mucked around for two and half years letting the primary sector slide- closing the hog plant and being just as useless as the Binns boys on the beef plant- and have talked about a rual development plan over the same many many months. And now the world ( and corporate greed) haver caught up with them. Now it is too late to help the rest of rural PEI because all of the money and energy will be spent trying to hold on to the Irvings for the good of the workforce in the ridings of Wes Sheridan, George Webster, Carolyn Bertram and Valerie Docherty-- all Ghiz cabinet misnisters. If you had not a -s- ed around so long with rural policy in general you would not have left the rest of the less powereful ( and Tory)rural areas over the barrel so badly right now. All you did for these areas was close down a bunch of schools.
Posted 08/11/2009 at 5:12 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
you know from ascension, pei writes: you know what's scary is the irvings and other big companys are moving to newbrunswick because their new deal in electricity over there is way down from pei.
our previous government under the direction of binns and currie signes a deal rumors have it that can't drop down like new brunswick.something about familly members having share in maritime electric hmm.
Posted 08/11/2009 at 8:03 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
TO Michael Nesbitt from PEI writes: CONGRATS! My sentiments Exactly !

Too bad our Politicians didn't have your intelligence! Maybe then we'd be one of HAVE vs. the HAVE NOT Provinces!

TIME FOR CHANGE FOR SURE ! The ony Question is by WHOM? Like you say, changing from Blue to Red and back again hasn't brought any changes so far!
Posted 08/11/2009 at 11:04 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
To Here We Go Again from PEI writes: I can't wait until you explain to me how these Training Programs Mr. Campbell is talking about helps the employees!!!
What the HE** would Cavendish Employees being laid off know about -
(training dollars to help Cavendish Farms improve productivity or adapt to changing markets. ) ????

If you can buy that one I have a House that I can sell you at a good price!

(Innovation Minister Allan Campbell says the province may consider providing training money for the workers of Cavendish Farms to keep their cheques rolling in even during the shutdown. He said that may help mitigate their losses.
That money would come from the Labour Market Agreement, which could provide training dollars to help Cavendish Farms improve productivity or adapt to changing markets.
“In every crisis I’ve got to look for an opportunity,” Campbell told The Guardian.
“There may be an opportunity here and that opportunity is around some training assistance.”)
Posted 08/11/2009 at 11:15 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
b d from summerside, pei writes: i am an employee at cavendish farms and i am shocked and disturbed of most of these hatred comments. The irvings are looking for help for its EMPLOYEES and not themselves.

would u not respect your employer if they tried to soften the blow to your paycheque if this happened to you?? they are looking at all their options to help us at the worse time of year.

since we may have to go through 2 week waiting periods.. would someone like to donate money when i have to make a 400 dollar payment on my used vehicle?? or put food on the table for my family when i have no income for that week?? didn't think so..
sjj jen.. your an idiot..a joke?? id rather work thank u as do most of us.. put yourself in our shoes before u make idiotic opinions

we work at cf to put food on our table and pay the bills.most of us don't have cushy 9-5 jobs as a lot of us work shift work..so while u may be having a nice peaceful sleep at say 3 in the morning, just think, employees at cf could be working in the cold freezer or shovelling tons of potatoes..

99% of ya have no idea what is going on in cf's business.
Posted 09/11/2009 at 12:03 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment
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