Training offer a backdoor subsidy: Opposition

An Opposition MLA is questioning the P.E.I. government's motive in offering training to workers at Cavendish Farms during planned shutdowns at the plant in the coming months.

'They are going to supply free labour for Cavendish Farms' — PC MLA Jim Bagnall

Cavendish Farms is planning several week-long shutdowns due to a dip in its sales. The company is blaming soft markets in the United States.

Innovation Minister Allan Campbell said the Liberal government may tap into labour market agreement money to pay Cavendish Farms workers for job-related training during the periodic shutdowns. That way workers would not lose a week in pay every time a shutdown happens.

But Progressive Conservative MLA Jim Bagnall said that amounts to a subsidy, and he questioned the government's motives.

"They are going to supply free labour for Cavendish Farms for a period of time. They're saying training, but as we know Cavendish has the best-trained staff of anywhere in Canada," Bagnall said.

"This is a chance for the province of Prince Edward Island to subsidize Cavendish Farms. It just seems to me that the government has come up with a roundabout way, which they've been doing in everything they've been doing since they've been in government, of helping their friends through the back door."

Campbell said the government is still working on details of how the training program would roll out.