Canada’s largest sugar refinery to be built in Hamilton

A sweet deal has been struck between the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) and one of the biggest sugar wholesalers in North America.

HOPA made the announcement early Tuesday and said the deal with SucroCan Sourcing earmarks an investment of $135 million for the Port of Hamilton.

The new facility will be built between Wentworth Street and Sherman Avenue at Pier 15 and is scheduled to open sometime in 2025.

Once complete, the plant will be the largest sugar processing facility in the country and should be able to refine one million metric tonnes of product a year.

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The decision to choose Pier 15 for the new plant stems from its close proximity to marine, rail and highway transportation.

SucroCan Sourcing’s CEO says the demand for sugar has never been higher, but refining efforts haven’t been able to keep up.

“Despite steady demand from an expanding food processing sector, overall refining capacity in both Canada and the United States has been stagnant for years,” Jonathan Taylor said.

Local MP Filomena Tassi says the new plant will create jobs and bolster the local economy.

“This is an important industry that employs over a hundred thousand workers in Ontario. The impact of SucroCan’s new plant will be felt across the region and beyond.”

The president and CEO of Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority Ian Hamilton and the founder and Taylor were on Morning Live to talk more about what the deal means for the city.