Bratina's brewing battle

It's relatively common for spats involving our council members to end up in the pages of the Spec. It's not so often that these outbursts appear in other newspapers.

But that's exactly what happened last week with Bob Bratina.

Apparently Bratina has ruffled the feathers of London's mayor by suggesting their tap water is inferior to ours. The argument prompted a story in London Free Press, which I've included at the bottom of this post.

It all started when Bratina -- who was angry about Labatt's decision to move Lakeport out of Hamilton to London -- suggested that Hamilton's water is better than London's and will therefore make superior beer.

This did not sit well with London's mayor, Ann Marie DeCicco-Best. She said Bratina's remarks were "as low as you can get" and made her "question his integrity."

I'll let you know if the London Free Press reports any pen-throwing over the next few days.

What's on tap?
BREWING CONFLICT: A boozy battle over water quality between the Forest City and Steeltown that started with beer
April 24, 2010
By NORMAN DE BONO, The London Free Press

A battle over suds has turned into a giant water fight.

And the clash between London and Hamilton has turned nasty, with one Steel City councillor -- angry over lost jobs there -- questioning the purity of London's water quality.

"Lakeport beer brewed in Hamilton has a more consistent taste and quality than beer in London," Hamilton Coun. Bob Bratina said Friday.

Labatt Breweries sparked the controversy when it shut down its Lakeport Brewery in Hamilton, consolidating operations in London, cutting 143 jobs in the Steel City.

Bratina said London has higher ph levels in its water, tainting it compared to the pristine liquid flowing around the city dominated by the steel industry.

"I would say the chemistry of London's water has issues and they have to deal with those."

London Mayor Ann Marie DeCicco-Best, however, fired back at Bratina, charging him with playing politics with his constituents' job losses.

"I find it unfortunate a councillor would try make this political, to take a potshot at another community is as low as you can get," DeCicco-Best said. "It is the worst of politics. It is a business decision and to play politics with that, I question his integrity."

London draws water from Lake Erie and Lake Huron while Hamilton draws from Lake Ontario. Labatt chose to consolidate operations in London because of its state-of-the-art facility and the fact it is under-used, so can handle the production.

"Labatt would not consolidate in a community that did not have quality water,'' the mayor said. "We would never say things about another community.''

"We never wish another community ill," the mayor added.

Labatt agreed, calling water quality in London "of the highest standard," said Jeff Ryan, director of corporate affairs.

"Since 1847, we have been brewing beer in London. That speaks to the quality of London's water," Ryan said.

Labatt's London brewery on Horton St. has had $40 million in upgrades during 10 years and will get $2.4 million more as a result of getting production from Hamilton. The London Labatt plant employs about 300 workers, 75 of which are part-time or temporary.

Meanwhile, Labatt rubbed salt in the wounds of Hamilton suds lovers, Bratina said, when it received interest from three breweries to take over the plant as long as they could buy the beer-making equipment. At least one of those bids pledged to save the Hamilton jobs.

But Labatt refused, saying it needs the brewing equipment for other breweries and its fermenters will be sent to London.

That helped create the backlash in Hamilton against Labatt, prompting calls for a boycott of Labatt beer from the Teamsters union, which represents Lakeport workers. Bratina upped the stakes by lashing out at its western neighbour.

Labatt did not agree to sell its equipment because it will be used at operations across Canada, a point Labatt made when it first announced the closing, Ryan said. Labatt has offered to pay the lease on the Lakeport plant for any business - a $2.1 million offer - as long as it is not a competing brewery. It also has offered $500,000 to the City of Hamilton to fund various charitable causes.

London Labatt workers have sympathy for those laid off in Hamilton, but they will not support a boycott and called for Teamsters to cancel the action, saying it hurts other workers.

"Jobs have been lost, we sympathize, but we cannot support a boycott. We do not want to see more jobs lost," said Dave Bridger, president of the Service Employees International Union, representing London Labatt workers.

The Lakeport Brewery building is owned by the Hamilton Port Authority and is leased to Labatt. The operation makes about one million hectolitres of beer a year. One hectolitre fillls about 12 cases of 24 beers.

Of the three brewers that expressed interest in buying Lakeport, Rochester-based North American Breweries submitted an offer that would have saved jobs and possibly created more.

"It was very solid," said Neil Everson, director of economic development for Hamilton.

Meanwhile, at the Galley Pump, a bar near the Lakeport Brewery frequented by its workers, emotions are running high.

"They see it as a hit against the city," co-owner Mike Heywood said of the anger. "We feel for the people who work at Lakeport, but it will fade.

"Right now I have 10 people in here asking me why I am serving Labatt, but a lot more are still drinking it."

UPDATE: Bob has written a response to London's mayor. Here's the full text:

Dear Mayor DeCicco-Best,

I'm writing in regard to comments that appeared in an article in the London Free Press about the closing of Lakeport Brewery in Hamilton. I'm quite sure by your response that you did not hear directly remarks attributed to me during a CBC radio interview on "As It Happens".  It's my belief that you were victimized by an old reporters' trick of getting you to respond to his or her version of what someone else said.  My presumption is that you were told I said something nasty about the London water supply.

When the reporter Mr. Debono called me, he asked if I didn't like the City of London.  I said to the contrary that my son is a student at UWO, we have had pleasurable visits to the City, often staying at the "Armoury" hotel, and that I read the London Free Press every day, preparing for my morning radio program on CHML.  I also provided reporter Jonathan Sher with an endorsement for his nomination for a Governor General's Award for Journalism.

I became familiar with aspects of the City of London water supply during the time when concerns were raised about lead.  So any statement I have made is limited to the simple fact that Hamilton has a very consistent water supply, drawn from well out into Lake Ontario, and that since beer is 98 per cent water this is an important factor in producing beer of consistent quality.  London's water has PH issues and requires treatment that may impact on the consistency of beer produced there.
The point I was making to Carol Off was that Hamilton has certain factors desired by brewers, namely  consistent quality water supply, 150 trained workers, and buildings that have licencing and permits in place.

At any rate I regret seeing the very negative depiction of me and what I said, understanding that you did not hear this program first hand.  I will continue to visit your great City and wish you well in your endeavours.

Sincerely,

Bob Bratina

Comments

[Brian Henley]

Well, Bob Bratina is certainly not the expert on all the things he thinks he is.
His comments are frivolous and just plain dumb, and sadly that is not unusual with this guy.
There are definitely issues to be dealt with and, hopefully resolutions, that can be found for the former Lakeport workers and for the plant itself.
The kinds of boorish pontificating exhibited by the councillor are an embarrassment to our city and to himself.

[Robert Latzer]

The competition bureau dropped the ball in the first place by allowing the sale of Lakeport to Labatt's. Had it been known that Labatt's was going to close the plant after purchasing it, eliminating the competition, the deal might not have gone through. I'm not sure if someone took a bribe of some kind, but even after a harsh judicial review, there was no action taken to stop the sale. They say money talks for a reason.

[grandmamoses]

Oh, Bob. Drink a pint!

[CityNeedsNewLeaders]

...and the buffoonery continues.

Note to editor - this is not a "personal" attack on Bob Bratina. I am merely commenting on the "actions" of councillors in general.

[kathy hagan]

Mr B will always be relied upon to utter nonsense and especially if it will generate publicity for him I don't believe he care one hoot for the Lakeport employees but he talks a good talk but when he is challenged on his remarks { as is the case in London} he twists and denies his words
His days would be better spent working for the people in his ward and not only his business cronies.

[Mrez]

Bob just made it worse. Now he is accusing the Mayor of London of not having done her homework and being duped by a reporter...I think she was a radio reporter in her past life, wasn't she? Plus he repeats the statement that London's water supply is suspect.

I'd be careful if I were Bob the next time I stayed in the "Armoury" hotel. He may be given a few bottles of London Beer 'pen' style!!!

Oh, by the way, Bob...have you been to the London Tap House in your ward lately? How is their beer?

[Markalanwhittle]

Bratin'a response is pretty laughable on the face of it. I'm with the Mayor of London on this one, and I think Bratina should appologize for demonizing London's water supply to look good for his own constituents here in Hamilton.

[Chris]

One word: Bleeech!