Manufacturing’s dive hit Welland hard
The Star visited three Ontario ridings at the heart of some of the economic challenges defining the federal election campaign.
WELLAND, ONT.— Back in the day, the popular Blue Star restaurant opened every morning at six, staff poised for action.
Lined up outside were hungry workers from massive nearby factories like John Deere and Union Carbide who were looking for hearty breakfasts washed down with steaming mugs of coffee.
“It was crazy,” said co-owner John Plentai, whose parents opened the restaurant in 1947, building it into a local institution for homestyle food that routinely attracts visiting politicians like Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.
"We’ll never get back what we had." FRANK CAMPION WELLAND MAYOR
But those plants, including the old Stelpipe factory across the street, have shut in a dismal domino effect over the last two decades, leaving ruins and vast vacant lots, one with a sign that says, ironically, “demolition is progress.”
With the Oct. 19 federal election campaign set to escalate after Labour Day, people are talking, as always, about the number one issue in this city of 51,000 in the heart of the Niagara Centre riding — jobs.
“We used to have three cooks on in the morning. Now we only have one and we open at seven,” said waitress Charlene Madere, a twinkle in her eye as she greeted a steady stream of regulars at lunch.
“I work 15 hours a week now. I used to work 40,” added Madere, who has worked at the Blue Star for 27 of its 68 years.
It’s a period that spans Welland’s heyday, sharp decline, and a comeback bid. Now, call centres and smaller plants, such as a wind turbine blade factory, steel operations and food processors, locate here to take advantage of an experienced and willing workforce.
Sports tourism is also taking off, thanks to Pan Am Games rowing facilities and the world dragon boat championships that recently had Welland hopping.
But where the big old plants like Atlas Steel used to employ a few thousand workers, the new operations are more likely to have 100 or 200 workers, if that.
“We’ll never get back what we had,” said Mayor Frank Campion, who ran as a Progressive Conservative in the last provincial election. “What we need are more incentives to attract manufacturing. There needs to be a real, strong effort from the federal government.”
Dan Degazio, Welland’s manager of economic development, would like to see more infrastructure funding and lower hydro rates to better compete with nearby New York state, although that is a provincial issue.
The low Canadian dollar is helping with industry and tourism, he said, noting “things aren’t as doom and gloom anymore” and that golfers from Buffalo are flocking to Wellandarea courses for cheap tee times thanks to the exchange rate.
Malcolm Allen, who has been the area’s New Democrat MP since defeating a Liberal in 2008, said the federal government needs an “industrial strategy” to help cities like Welland, at the heart of the riding that stretches from southern St. Catharines, through Thorold and down the famous Welland Canal to Port Col- borne on Lake Erie.
“Harper sunk his eggs in the basket of natural resources, and when things go in the other direction, we see the results,” Allen said at the gates of the vacant Union Carbide lands, now used by Niagara Region to train police dogs.
“We want to get those lands back into production,” said Liberal candidate Vance Badawey, a well-known local businessman and former mayor of Port Colborne, who proposes a “free-trade zone,” allowing goods to move across the border tariff free, as businesses enjoy in western New York.
Conservative candidate Leanna Villella, who placed second to Allen in 2011, could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts made through staff in her campaign office over the last week.
“I work 15 hours a week now. I used to work 40.” CHARLENE MADERE WAITRESS AT A WELLAND RESTAURANT