FORT FRANCES—With news last week that mill union members had approved a tentative agreement with Abitibi-Consolidated in support of the bio-mass boiler project here, local leaders and businesses are hopeful this will mean more stability for the community and commerce.
“Any labour-related situation that gets resolved is a plus for the community” Mayor Roy Avis said Monday.
“I think it makes people feel more secure,” he added. “I do believe it’s a benefit to our community.”
Mayor Avis, who also owns West End Motors, noted there’s been some reluctance on the part of local consumers of late to commit to big-ticket purchases, such as cars and trucks.
But he added he’s confident the situation’s probably going to start to turn around.
“We hope the movement towards the bio-mass plant and settlement in the labour negotiations makes people feel more secure, and they can put [major purchases] into their budget,” said Mayor Avis.
“While the agreement is yet to be signed, I believe that when two groups are working as closely towards a positive end such as this, with the potential construction of the bio-mass boiler, the whole community can only benefit,” agreed Christine Denby, president of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.
“From a broader perspective, I think its great to see some positives for the forestry industry that of late has only seen negative headlines,” she added.
Jim Badiuk of Badiuk Equipment here said he’s confident the agreement may mean more people buying big-ticket items.
“Before, they were uncertain, and now their certainty level should be up,” he remarked.
“I’m so happy the town and everyone is supporting this mll project, especially the union people, added Badiuk. “They could always agree or not agree—they could oppose it, but they’re working in the right direction.
“Hats off to those guys.”
“I think people feel better now,” echoed Dave Green of Green’s Countrywide Furniture and Appliances, adding he felt there’s been at least some reluctance on customers’ parts to purchase big-ticket items for a while now.
“It’s going to help getting things going. It’s definitely good news,” he noted.
Still, some other business owners stressed last week’s agreement was only the first step—and that business will pick up even more once Abitibi confirms a bio-mass boiler will be built here.
“I still think some people are waiting for the hog boiler to get decided,” said Mark Howarth of Howarth’s Home Centre.
“I had somebody in the other day and they’re all ready to buy a plasma [TV] as soon as that gets done, or if it gets done,” he added.
“Although before Christmas we were selling big plasmas and stuff to people who work at the mill who were getting tired of waiting and just wanted to get them,” continue Howarth. “It depends on the individual, I guess.
“But as a rule, it’s certainly good news.”
Ben Wiersema of Kitchen & Bath Plus said certainly some local residents have been reluctant over the past year or so to do any renovations, and have been waiting for news of the mill’s future.
“The next step is probably the crucial one, and that’s when the company announces the construction of this hog fuel boiler,” he remarked. “This is just one step.
“It’s definitely positive,” he stressed. “But whether it will affect people’s buying habits, I doubt it until such time. It’s a little early.”
Dan Cousineau of Cousineau Brokers said he felt the local real estate market has been somewhat slower than normal lately, possibly due to local consumers’ “uncertainty” about the mill, though adding winter traditionally is a sluggish season and so it’s hard to gauge how much that has been to blame.
But Cousineau did say that with news of last week’s agreement, he expects real estate activity will pick up in the spring.
“There’s been some energy that’s built up that will have to burst out a bit,” he noted. “March and April could get pretty fast and furious because it has been a little slower.”
In fact, Cousineau said if the bio-mass boiler gets the green light, there even may be a temporary housing shortage here.
“There’s not a lot on the market. It takes time to build it up. Demand can happen overnight, but supply doesn’t,” he remarked.
Cousineau, who also sits on the board of the local Business Improvement Association, said he felt some people still might wait a while before buying big-ticket items.
“I think people might be waiting to see exactly what’s going to happen,” he reasoned. “I know everything looks good right now and hopefully everything will go as planned.
“But I think we’re one step away still.”
As reported last week, the four local unions voted in favour of an agreement to give Abitibi some long-term labour stability in exchange for a guarantee it would build and operate a new bio-mass boiler here.
Abitibi’s board of directors now has to approve the proposed bio-mass boiler project. Mill manager John Harrison said last week he doesn’t anticipate this happening before March.
The proposed bio-mass generator (also referred to as a “hog fuel” boiler) uses renewable cost-effective fuel (wood waste) to generate steam and electricity to the mill—resulting in significant cost-savings and consequently boosting the long-term viability of the mill.
The bio-mass generator would not replace the current co-gen plant, but supplement its power generation.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
