P.E.I. hog plant closes down

After years of struggles, bailouts and failed promises of revival, Prince Edward Island's only pork-processing plant ceased operations Friday.

A group of about 200 people protested the closure outside the plant, and then moved to the Farm Centre to hear from provincial Agriculture Minister Neil LeClair and Anthony Nabuurs, chair of the hog marketing board.

LeClair had prepared remarks but had some difficulty getting his point across as angry farmers and plant workers shouted questions at him from the back of the room.

Gary Gallant worked his last shift at the plant Thursday night and described his state of mind to CBC News.

"Disbelief, always hoping that the plant was going to stay open. A lot of the guys were [thinking] the same thing. Things were going to turn around; the government is going to help us out here," he said.

"Ten years of your life gone. A lot of guys [have been] there 30 years, 35 years. What do we do now?"

The plant, which was owned by National and Organic Food Group Inc., was placed into receivership earlier this year after the Ghiz government called in a $1.5 million loan.

The province continued to run it but maintained it was only keeping it open for the short term while farmers found other markets for their hogs. For it to stay open, a private buyer would have had to be found.

No buyer emerged, and the province announced the Friday deadline early this week.

The plant employed 85 people and had an annual payroll of about $4 million. Island farmers will start shipping their hogs off-Island on Monday.