Power of unity

A “David-and-Goliath” fight. A “Hail Mary” attempt.
Both are apt descriptions of the delegation of district municipal leaders and First Nations’ chiefs that descended on Queen’s Park earlier this week to plead the case to wrest control of the Crossroute Forest from Resolute Forest Products.
Time will tell if their efforts were successful—and lead to the restarting of the local kraft mill (and possibly the paper machines) which, in turn, means creating an estimated 1,000 much-needed jobs into the local economy.
What was most gratifying to see, however, was the arguably unprecedented display of district co-operation in uniting behind a common cause.
When word broke last week that talks between Resolute and Expera Specialty Solutions to purchase the mill here had collapsed, the wheels quickly were put in motion to organize the trip (complete with chartering a Dash 8 to fly everyone from here to Toronto and back), arrange a press conference at Queen’s Park, and provide the opposition parties with information to use as ammunition against the Liberal government during Question Period.
That all this was done between Wednesday night and early Monday afternoon was amazing.
This is not a Fort Frances issue. Mill jobs, after all, employ workers right across the district. But equally important, one company having control of the timber allotment clearly is a detriment to other ones setting up shop here—which has ramifications for the whole district, affecting both non-aboriginal and aboriginal communities alike.
The district’s efforts this week are commendable, and hopefully makes everyone realize the power we hold—and what can be accomplished—when we all work together.
And with the stakes so high, it’s imperative we remain united and keep up the fight!