EDMONTON — Union representing the employees of XL Foods and the mayor of the plant’s
hometown in Brooks, Alta., are optimistic about JBS USA assuming the management role at the
company.

“We believe this is a positive situation. We endorse it with caution because, like anything, the proof is
in the pudding. JBS is going to have to come in here and prove they can run the plant. And in order to
do that, they are going to have to reach out to the workers,” said Doug O’Halloran of the United Food
and Commercial Workers union as quoted by TheProvince.com.

Both the union and Mayor Martin Shields are cautiously confident in JBS USA, a Canadian subsidiary
of a Brazil-based company. They hope the global company will turn around the beef production at the
plant through effective communication.

Meanwhile, a JBS USA spokesperson said the company is planning to employ the workforce that has
been laid off.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been monitoring activity at the plant, which is still shut
down with limited operations.

JBS USA will run the XL plant for 60 days and has an exclusive option to buy the Canadian and U.S.
operations of XL Foods.