THUNDER BAY, Ont. —Some old ideas which have never been implemented may see new life from a panel geared toward forest sector recovery.
The Task Force of Resource-Dependent Communities stopped in this northwestern Ontario city yesterday to hear ideas and suggestions to fix the forestry crisis, which has hit dozens of mills and thousands of jobs in Ontario.
The three panellists, Geraldton, Ont., Mayor Michael Power, Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., economic developer Rob Cheethan and forestry consultant Jeff Butler, heard proposals for regional energy pricing, community-controlled timber allocations and a mill closure review process.
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union vice-president Cec Makowski said regional power rates have long been touted as an answer to the crisis.
“It’s an issue that we have pushed for a long time now,” Makowski said.
Area mills currently struggle with hydro rates that are double those in Manitoba and Quebec.
The Ontario government has rejected regional pricing in favour of energy rebates.
“They came up with this Band-Aid solution which really hasn’t slowed down the closures in the industry,” Makowski said.
Makowski also blamed the Ontario government for failing to provide a broad consultation process for people to share their views, so the unions decided to do it themselves.
The four-city tour is organized by CEP and United Steelworkers.
USW Local 1-2693 vice-president Nathalie Belair said the future of Northern communities remains in jeopardy, and she said the province has failed to listen to proposals put forth by community leaders.
“Band-Aid approaches have maybe assisted some companies in sustaining some short-term economic benefit,” Belair said. “But it’s not enough to sustain in a long-term solution.”
Belair suggested a “mill closure review process,” to be initiated before any forestry plant can close its doors.
Cheethan expressed interest in that concept, saying it would have been invaluable when the mill in Smooth Rock Falls announced its closure in December.
“There was no discussion,” Cheethan said of the closure in his community.
“Although we all expected what was coming, there was very little discussion along the way, so I really take that as a very important element.”
Timmins-James Bay New Democrat MP Charlie Angus appeared before the task force to denounce the federal and provincial governments’ handling of the forest crisis.
“What we’re dealing with over the past number of years is the abandonment of resource policy, particularly in Ontario,” Angus said.
Angus called the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber deal a “sellout” which has had a “devastating impact” on this region.
The task force stopped in Dryden, Ont., and Espanola, Ont., last month.
The fourth and final stop is scheduled for Kapuskasing, Ont., on Thursday.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
