The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is planning a campaign to call for a regional energy pricing system in Ontario to help the struggling forest industry.
“This province should adopt regional power authorities. Where it makes the most sense is in Northwestern Ontario,” said Cecil Makowski, vice-president of the Ontario region for the CEP.
Makowski was speaking at a press conference at the local CEP office on Fourth Street West here Tuesday morning. He and national rep Kim Ginter were in town for a CEP conference being held at the Adventure Inn.
Some 60 delegates from 19 local unions from the Ontario Primary Forest Council were in attendance.
“The main topic of interest is the continued crisis in the forest products industry,” Makowski said.
While some blame the strong Canadian dollar for the industry’s problems, Makowski said that is only one contributing factor.
“Policies made by government put the industry in a position of jeopardy and non-competitiveness,” he asserted.
“In 1990, Ontario had the most competitive hydro costs in North America and the lowest delivered fibre costs in the world,” Makowski said.
Now, the province has both the highest hydro rates in North America and the highest delivered fibre costs in the world.
Regional power authorities would help lower energy rates and the industry’s costs, Makowski explained.
“Fort Frances is in an area of the province that is subject to a market price regime when you have little connection to the energy grid in southern Ontario,” he said, noting the lights stayed on in Northwestern Ontario during the blackout of 2003.
“You’re drowning in excess generation capacity,” he argued.
Later this month, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is expected to release a study touting the benefits of regional power authorities, Makowski added.
The CEP also is calling for municipal control over excess fibre resources, rather than leaving them in the hands of forest companies.
“That fibre resource should be controlled by municipal boards,” which would be made up of stakeholders, workers, and First Nation representatives, among others, Makowski said.
“Our union is also calling for a job review commission,” he said. “When a company announces a closure, the commission reviews the reasons and examines alternatives to the closure.”
If there is no avoiding the closure, the commission would examine alternatives for the community to reduce the impact on the local economy, he explained.
Makowski also expressed concern over the introduction of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) in Ontario.
“We see their introduction as privatization by stealth of our very long-cherished medicare system,” he warned.
“When you introduce any system that allows for profit from a health care delivery network, there is no choice but to see a reduction in services,” he added.
Makowski said he’s concerned about a local application for a Family Health Team in Rainy River District that was submitted to, and approved, by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care without appropriate public consultation.
“We are calling for public input to ensure the needs of citizens are canvassed and are adhered to,” Makowski said.
The CEP will be going to other communities to make sure the public is aware of the effect of LHINs and FHTs, and has an opportunity to voice its opinion on those topics.
(Fort Frances Times)
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