News Release

Mayor Urges Premier, Province to Find Buyer/Operator for Moir’s Factory

(Thursday, May 10/07)-- Mayor Peter Kelly today urged Premier Rodney MacDonald and the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development to begin a search immediately for a potential buyer and operator for the Moir’s chocolate factory in Woodside.

In a letter to the Premier on behalf of Halifax Regional Council, Mayor Kelly said the planned plant closure at the end of this year announced yesterday by the U.S.-based Hershey corporation means the loss of about 600 jobs in Woodside, which is a devastating blow to the HRM economy, as well as the provincial economy.

“The Moir’s chocolate factory has operated in the Halifax-Dartmouth area for more than 75 years and has provided a significant number of full-time jobs over that period. In fact, generations of many families have been employed at the Moir’s plant during that time, “ he said. “ I urge your government to ensure the rights and well-being of the Woodside plant employees are appropriately protected until a new buyer/operator can be found.”

Mayor Kelly said the Moir’s plant has undergone a significant multi-million dollar modernization in the past few years and the taxpayers of Nova Scotia contributed millions of dollars towards that upgrade and modernization.

The Mayor said that he personally made contact today with the head offices of several national confectionery companies asking them about their interest in the Woodside plant from Hershey.

In addition, Mayor Kelly urged the Province, through the Office of the Premier and the Department of Economic Development, to make similar contact with the major players in the confectionary industry.

“The name Moir’s has become synonymous with quality and synonymous with Nova Scotia, so I urge you and your Cabinet colleagues to make every effort to ensure this tradition,” the Mayor said. “This plant and the more than 600 permanent jobs continue to be part of our province and our economy.”

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Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010