It's another sad day in Hamilton. Lakeport Brewery announced it's closing April 30 and putting 143 people out of work. Read the full story here, and watch for updates throughout the day and in tomorrow's paper.
It was only a few weeks ago that Siemens announced it was moving south - a move that cost the city 550 jobs. Even with victories like the Canada Bread announcement that will bring 300 new positions to Hamilton, we're still facing a net job loss.
What do you think? Why do businesses keep closing? Can Hamilton recover?
Hard to imagine how the idea of Teresa Cascioli running for mayor was ever floated. She's known this was coming ever since she cashed in. Thanks Teresa!
Posted by: Mary Louise | 03/30/2010 at 11:38 AM
Businesses are leaving Hamilton due to the inept governance of our elected officials.
Trying to talk to anyone at the city with a Business related question, nets you no response. I am still waiting for a return phone call after repeated attempts last October.
Posted by: Maureen | 03/30/2010 at 12:40 PM
Any one who didn't see this comming is blind. The only reason Labatt's bought the place is to close it and do away with the competition.
Labatt's couldn't compete with the buck a beer competition. To suggest that they are closing due to over capacity is just an out and out lie.
Posted by: Mike Russell | 03/30/2010 at 12:58 PM
This is what happens when all our business is controlled by non Canadian interests. Labatt's is owned by AnheuserBusch InBev a Belgian company. The same situation has occurred with Seimens, and US Steel. You will notice the good citizens they are by stripping the building to prevent another brewer from operating there and create jobs for the dismissed workers. How long will this buiding sit vacant.
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 03/30/2010 at 02:10 PM
We can slap these posters on the new City Hall, the Connaught and all the rest of the vacant buildings in the core and throughout the city. Will Sam have one on his front lawn tonight?
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 03/30/2010 at 03:17 PM
Sorry I missed the biggest non story of the year so far. This closure was coming right from the get go. While Mr. Merulla was pretending he cared for those still working in Hamilton, I was busy working in Burlington. In a related article, a campaign is under way to boycott Labatt's, this type of mindless frittering never works. People have the right to choose what they want to purchase, I myself won't be crying in any bitter suds this weekend. Sadly again, our elected officials and business leaders embarrass Hamilton again.
Posted by: Kendall Oliphant | 03/30/2010 at 07:46 PM
I don't see how bashing the city is at all constructive to finding a solution. Councilor Merulla is right in his stance regarding industry in this city. the 200 jobs and the $850,000 in tax revenue the city is losing is the focus here. Wasting time with personal attacks and sour grapes is chidish and non productive.
Posted by: Ryan | 03/31/2010 at 09:45 AM
Business is all about numbers and 2 colours: Red and Black. Nothing less, nothing more.
Posted by: AR/AP | 03/31/2010 at 12:54 PM
ARé and AP: Well, interesting analogy but a business is just more than just numbers, it is about people and the BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, that they put into it everyday, by going to work to contribute.
Anyways, BLACK AND RED, are the two colors that are most identified with the labour movement.
Maybe you need to move away from your spreadsheets and financial statements and look at things in their proper perspective.
The poverty numbers in this city will continue to rise, just so a few can be RICH BEYOND BELIEVE.
Posted by: Michelle Hruschka | 03/31/2010 at 02:54 PM
make no mistake lakeport products will dissapear in time and the price of labbatts products wiil rise the fact that they assure the plant will never produced beer again should show everyone that foirein companies laugh at canadians for so easily allowing this to happen with canadian politicians helping them pleas if anything remember the job losses in this great city of OURS when you vote PLEAS VOTE!!!!!
Posted by: keeee | 03/31/2010 at 03:29 PM
Michelle if business can not operate in the black here there will be no business and we will become a third world country. Imagine walking miles every day to carry buckets of water from the bay for washing cooking and drinking?
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 03/31/2010 at 05:56 PM
The bottom line is the bottom line.
If I was a Labatt shareholder I would be POed knowing I wasn't making optimal gains on my investments. Labatts isn't in the business of employing Hamiltonians, they are in the business of making good beer for less at the highest profit margin they can get away with. Personally, when I worked blue collar, i worked my butt of to get more education at night so my chances of financial security were better. Now they are.
Posted by: Ian | 03/31/2010 at 06:41 PM
Tom: In the world of big business, many operate in the red, as they can apply the loss against another entity that is in the black, you know that thing caLled TAXES.
The problem with this is that they had a small niche in the market which was taking away the some of the market share and thus, the bigger fish swallowed the smaller fish, and only one person walked away with millions, yet that person did not do all the work by themselves, it was everyone that contributed.
But what about the community, the workers, the families, does anybody care about them.
So please explain to these families where thye are getting jobs, in a market that is very tight for jobs.
The whole idea behind all these free trade deals, is in the end to knock everyone down to the bottom. Some just have not hit there yet, but you could be next.
The few at the top get richer, while everyone else is losing. Education is not always the way out, as many who do have education, are working for minimum wage jobs and not making it.
Who is standing up for the workers, the families!
Posted by: Michelle Hruschka | 04/01/2010 at 03:30 PM