Queen’s Park, Toronto - In the first day of the legislature since the shocking news that Hershey would be closing its Smiths Falls factory, Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling demanded of the Premier how he would help the town of Smiths Falls.

“On February 22, the 500 employees of the Hershey plant and all 9,200 residents of Smiths Falls were devastated to hear that the chocolate factory would be closing,” said Mr. Sterling. “Smiths Falls has already suffered industrial layoffs and is facing the closure of the Rideau Regional Centre by 2009. With 1,500 residents facing layoffs, we not only need a solid plan for Smiths Falls’ future, we need action now.”

On March 6, Progressive Conservative leader John Tory visited the town and met with Mr. Sterling, Mayor Dennis Staples and Hershey employees and union representatives. Mr. Tory has urged Hershey’s head office to reconsider this closure and find a way to continue to operate in Smiths Falls.

“Our first priority is to keep Hershey in Smiths Falls but while we are trying to convince Hershey to stay, there are steps the Premier can take now to offer hope for the town,” said Mr. Sterling. “The Premier has the power to delay closure of the Rideau Regional Centre and move forward with the redevelopment of the Smiths Falls Hospital immediately.”

In September 2004, then Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello announced the accelerated closure of the Rideau Regional Centre and promised to work with the town to develop a plan to deal with the economic impact. Today, as Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Minister Pupatello made the same promise.

“Little has come of the Minister’s first promise,” said Mr. Sterling. “We cannot afford to wait for another elusive plan, so I will continue to demand concrete action by the McGuinty government to help the people of Smiths Falls,” said Mr. Sterling.

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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900