Solar panel maker blames politics and power authority for layoffs

Solar panel manufacturer Siliken Canada is laying off 60 workers at its Windsor facility, and a company official is blaming the opposition and the power authority.

The company said the workers could be out of work for a week, a month or maybe longer.

Siliken opened the plant in the spring with 121 staff.

Production manager Richard Monk said sales fell after Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak vowed to kill the province’s deal with Siliken and the Green Energy Act. He also blames the Ontario Power Authority for delays in connecting green energy projects to the power grid.

The company had hoped to open a third and fourth line of production by October, but that is now on hold.