Putting Good Jobs in a Precarious Situation

Proposed Changes to Workplace Regulations will Hurt Economic Opportunities for Ontarians
Food and Beverage Ontario responds to Ontario Government panel

GUELPH, ON, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) – the food and beverage processing sector's non-profit leadership organization – responded today to the provincial government's Changing Workplaces Review initiative with the report, Putting Good Jobs in a Precarious Situation.

This report follows analysis of the Changing Workplaces Review (CWR) process and consultation with processors across Ontario. FBO's latest economic impact data tells the story of this job-creating heavyweight sector with 3,800 food and beverage processing businesses in the province that collectively contribute $40 billion to the economy annually. These businesses also employ 142,000 people making the sector the province's leading manufacturing employer.

Given the importance of a healthy and responsible labour environment to the success of the sector and the strength of the province's economy, FBO is concerned with what is transpiring. The CWR initiative as it has been presented will jeopardize jobs and compromise investment. And these concerns are not exclusive to the food and beverage sector.

"Speedo Foods and Flavours develops food and flavourings for the baking industry. In the last five years our revenue and its full time payroll has grown more then 10-fold. Our employees are at the heart of our company's success and we would like to continue along this growth trajectory but we need the right environment to do so otherwise we will invest outside of the province," said Angela Bell, General Manager of Speedo Foods and Flavours.

Recent information released by the provincial government suggests potential reforms are being finalized that will discourage investment, hurt jobs and negatively impact the Ontario economy. Given the uncertainty of the situation, Food and Beverage Ontario strongly requests the soon to be released CWR report be referred to the government's own panel charged with promoting a competitive economy, the Business Law Advisory Council, for further economic analysis and consultation.

"This is a damning situation for Ontario businesses. We have the potential threat of changes to employment and labour legislation that hasn't been duly consulted and assessed in terms of economic impact," said Norm Beal, CEO, Food and Beverage Ontario.

To read Food and Beverage Ontario's full response to the CWR follow this link.

About Food and Beverage Ontario

Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit, leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. FBO's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector – a $40 billion industry and major contributor to the province's economy. 

SOURCE Food and Beverage Ontario

For media inquiries contact: Isabel Dopta, Director of Communications, Food and Beverage Ontario, [email protected], 519.993.1192