Dalton McGuinty visits Kellogg's plant

By Katrina Geenevasen

BELLEVILLE. Joined by Prince Edward-Hastings candidate Leona Dombrowsky; Premier Dalton McGuinty stopped at the Kellogg plant in Belleville to celebrate a new production line that has created 48 new jobs. Photo by: Katrina Geenevasen.

Premier Dalton McGuinty stopped by for breakfast in Belleville Wednesday morning.

He was in the city visiting the Kellogg plant, which is celebrating the addition of a new production line that will create 48 new jobs.

With the new production line, the plant will add Bran Buds and Kashi Heart to Heart to the Mini-Wheats already produced there.

Dressed casually in dark-wash jeans and a sweater emblazoned with the Liberal logo, McGuinty arrived to a chorus of cheers from spectators waving supportive signs.

He was there in support of Prince Edward-Hastings Liberal candidate Leona Dombrowsky as voters prepare for the upcoming October election.

He began his speech by telling the audience of his family’s “distinct and proud” history with Kellogg’s cereal.

“I grew up with a big family, and we were entitled to get up in the morning, leave our beds, go downstairs to the breakfast table, and we had access to a pretty well unlimited supply of puffed wheat,” said McGuinty. “No cereal was ever designed to more quickly soak up all the milk and sink to the bottom of our bowl than puffed wheat.

“So we weren’t big fans of puffed wheat. But we also had the gold that was hidden under my mother’s bed. That was Corn Flakes. And when she woke up, she would produce the gold and we knew we hit the big time with Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.”

On a more serious note, McGuinty said Kellogg’s investment in the new production line is a vote of confidence in the skills and knowledge of Ontario workers.

“It’s another positive sign that our investments in people are creating jobs,” said McGuinty.

Surrounded by the newly hired workers at the plant, McGuinty said that a strong economy means a strong health care system.

“I’m talking about health care this week,” said McGuinty. “So what’s the connection, here? Well, the connection here is we have growth. We have jobs, and you can’t have strong health care if you don’t have a strong economy. And the economy is on track.  Since January of this year, Ontario, with 40 per cent of the population, has increased 50 per cent of Canada’s full time jobs.”

He also said that for the past two years, “Ontario has been the second most favorite location in all of North America when it comes to attracting foreign investment.”

McGuinty said that in an uncertain and anxious global economy, global investors are looking for places to spend their money.

“They are looking for a place that is secure and prosperous,” said McGuinty. “They say, right after California, that the best place to go in North America is Ontario, Canada. So that speaks to what is happening here in our province. So with that base, we can support good quality health care, which is important to all our families.”

In a press release, Dombrowsky credited McGuinty’s policies for bringing new jobs to the region.

Diane Raniowski, one of the Liberal supporters on hand, said she is thankful for everything the McGuinty government has done in the past.