Ford says 'Guelph' turned down glass plant. But it was never destined for that city

Premier Doug Ford has called out 'Guelph' for turning down a new glass plant that would have brought 400 jobs to the area, even though the plant was never suggested for that city.

During question period on Monday, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner questioned Ford on invoking the notwithstanding clause over legislation to shrink the size of Toronto's city council.

Ford said instead, they should be talking about jobs.

"We had a company come to us, a company from China that wants to employ 400 people, a window manufacturer, and guess what Mr. Speaker, they wanted to go to Guelph but Guelph refused them. Who refuses 400 jobs?" Ford said.

"I'm sure there's jurisdictions all around Ontario that would love a glass company to come to their riding. Come to Etobicoke, come to Scarborough, come to any of our MPP's areas. They'd be happy to take 400 jobs."

Officials with Xinyi Glass had hoped to build a plant in Guelph/Eramosa Township, which is located in Wellington County. The MPP for Wellington County is Ted Arnott, the Progressive Conservative who currently serves as Speaker.

Ford's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Land for dry use

In July, Guelph/Eramosa Township council voted against allowing Xinyi Canada Glass to build its float glass plant on lands between Guelph and Cambridge.

The council upheld a bylaw that keeps the land Xinyi was hoping to develop "for dry use."

It means any industry that sets up at that location cannot use significant amounts of water for production. The company planned to use an estimated 1.6 million litres of water a day in the manufacturing process.

Earlier this week, the NDP said they were concerned by reports Ford had held a "closed-door meeting" with someone from Xinyi.

Ian Arthur, the NDP's critic for the environment and sustainability, asked why Ford thought Guelph/Eramosa Township should "rip up a longstanding industrial water limit bylaw and threaten the drinking water" in the area for the company.

"The people who depend on this at-risk aquifer are worried about Ford's declaration that he not only met in secret with Xinyi, but that he's taking the corporation's side and they have good reason to be," Arthur said in a release.

People 'rightfully concerned'

Schreiner says he's concerned Ford didn't have his facts straight on the matter.

"The premier tried to suggest Guelph was closed for business. Guelph has one of the strongest economies in the province, so I wanted to make the record straight on that," he said.

Schreiner says he's concerned about the meetings Ford has had about the glass plant, too.

"I think the premier needs to be transparent about that and open about that, because I think people in the region have legitimate concerns," Schreiner said.