Columbia Finishing Mills, a company in Cornwall, said it may lose jobs to a firm overseas.
The small company had supplied the Federal Government with the cover of Canadian passports for the past 30 years.
When their contract came up, the $1-million job went to a company based in the Netherlands.
“It’s going to affect everyone in the company, whether you are a low man on the totem pole or not,” said Mark Whitford, Columbia Finishing Mills worker. He is afraid he will lose his job.
"Twenty-five or 30 per cent of our people will be let go unfortunately,” said Brian Lynch, Columbia Finishing Mills President.
The passport covers account for a quarter to a third of Columbia's overall business.
The Head of Cornwall’s Chamber of Commerce is outraged the city is losing more jobs to a company overseas.
"Every Canadian has a passport…That was made in Cornwall. Now it’s going to an overseas company to make,” said Rick Shaver, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. “What’s next? Our currency?”
The MP for the area said Canada Bank Note is the company that tendered the contract for Passport Canada.
The Head of the Chamber of Commerce had written the Prime Minister demanding the government rescind the contract and invest in the local firm.
They haven't had a response.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr.
