The Green Party candidate in the Battlefords is criticizing corporations for putting "profit over people" in the wake of the pending shutdown of the Maple Leaf Foods plant in North Battleford.
Owen Swiderski, who is running for the party in the provincial riding, said in a news release last week the Oct. 19 announcement of the closing of the Maple Leaf plant "is another example of disregard for the workers who ran the company. Many of us have friends and family that will be out of work and struggling soon."
He brought up the recent Occupy Wall Street protests that have since swept North America, including the Battlefords, to expand on his points.
"The Occupy protests have raised a lot of important issues. The most popular of these issues is the corporate policy of 'profit over people.' In The Battlefords, large corporations treat us no different," said Swiderski, pointing to the Maple Leaf Foods closings.
He adds that while the province claims the employment rate is good, "I know the reality is that the only work for unrecognized skilled labor is big box chain corporations.
"We need a government that will help its residents get the skills and certification needed to succeed," said Swiderski.
"We need to reverse subsidies for thriving corporations and aim them at local business in order to have a prosperous province. We need to build strong communities with a caring economy and give it's people the tools needed to learn, grow and succeed in the province,"
