Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced assistance funding for Leamington Heinz employees.
Wynne made the announcement while speaking at the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon, at the Caboto Club Friday. Wynne says the provincial government will provide $200,000 to help assist workers. The money comes from the Communities in Transition fund.
"I want the people of Leamington to know that they have our support,” said Wynne in a news release. “Their work has contributed to the economic strength of this province and we will make sure that in return, we support their needs during this challenging time."
The funding comes just over a week after H. J. Heinz announced the closure of their production facility in the town. The closure will see 740 full-time employees out of work by mid-2014.
Leamington mayor John Paterson was scheduled to meet with Heinz Friday afternoon in Toronto, but that meeting fell through. The cancellation was a result of Paterson’s flight being delay, due to weather conditions, and Heinz having “no time window” left for a meeting.
Wynne will head to Leamington following her speech at the chamber, where she is scheduled to speak with Paterson and others in a closed door meeting.
