Job loss scarier where jobs are scarce

Despite the lackadaisical attitude of Premier Wade MacLauchlan regarding the Cavendish Farms’ announcement that it is ceasing operations at its O’Leary Corner potato packing plant at the end of the year, the news is devastating to the people who will lose their jobs and to the West Prince economy. The loss of 40 jobs in downtown Charlottetown would not have the same impact that it would in a small town like O’Leary where other options are not as plentiful for those out-of-work packing house employees. Job loss throws workers into uncertainty. When and where will the next job be? Will there be down time between jobs? Will I like my new job and new co-workers? Will I need to relocate? Job loss is scarier in rural P.E.I. where there are fewer job openings to fill. On top of that, the loss of 40 jobs is more noticeable in a rural population than in an urban setting. The premier’s bravado, that the displaced workers will be able to find new jobs, is noteworthy: He’s expressing confidence in the strength of the local economy. That’s nice, but what about the displaced workers? They need and deserve more reassurance than that. The premier needs to promise government programs and services for any employee who experiences difficulty taking the next steps in their employment journey. He needs to assure the West Prince business community that it will not be harmed by this drastic job loss. He just needs to take this mater more seriously, like the mayor of O’Leary did, expressing real concerns for the impact of this plant closure on his town and surrounding area.

Government cannot be rushed by Cavendish Farms

There was a second element to Cavendish Farms’ announcement, a warning that its potato processing operation on P.E.I. could be impacted if growers don’t get access to supplemental irrigation. “If farmers are not able to grow more potatoes (by increasing yields, not acres) then the Prince Edward Island industry may not be sustainable as competition in the frozen potato export market intensifies,” the company stated. There is currently a moratorium on high-capacity wells for agricultural use, and the province is not prepared to lift that moratorium, not yet, anyway. When the two main points in the corporation’s O’Leary Corner announcement are taken together, it kind of makes the Cavendish Produce workers pawns in Cavendish Farms’ campaign for high-capacity wells, and that’s disappointing. The corporation, though, has successfully turned up the heat on the irrigation debate. Consider it back on the front burner. To the government’s credit, it is holding firm on the moratorium, so far. It needs to. More information is needed on the impacts of adding more high-capacity wells. The environment needs to come first. Ahead of potato yields. Ahead of processing plant jobs. Ahead of Cavendish Farms’ wants. Solid scientific information, showing that wells can be added without any impact, is required before any consideration can be given to lifting the moratorium in any agricultural area of the province. And that doesn’t exist.