Duane Hicks
A more inclusive model of forest management, which allows all municipalities and First Nations in this area to share in the direct economic benefits of the Crossroute Forest, will be at the top of the town’s list when it makes a presentation during the 2015 Ontario pre-budget consultation here next Tuesday (Jan. 20).
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig will make the presentation at 10:30 a.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous.
“We’re talking about our situation in Fort Frances, with the mill and the breakdown of the talks with Expera, what we need from the government right now to entice the buyer that we so desire for the mill—that being a conditional wood supply allocated by the government,” noted McCaig.
“That’s going to be the thrust of a lot of the presentations that day,” he added.
“They’re going to hear that a lot.”
McCaig noted this message will go beyond the presentations at the Rendez-Vous.
“I think there is a lot in the works for this day. We really want to make an impression,” he stressed, adding it will be “memorable” for the MPPs and other provincial representatives coming here for the pre-budget consultation.
Coun. Ken Perry noted one idea being considered is getting a truck and trailer with a load of wood and a sign on it indicating the wood is bound for Thunder Bay—and Rainy River District doesn’t like it.
This would be parked near the airport or somewhere along the way when the delegates arrive Monday, and then at the Rendez-Vous the next day.
Other topics to be included in the town’s presentation include:
•the proposed reductions in payments to municipalities for power dams;
•the re-establishment of the “Connecting Link” program to pay for the reconstruction of major traffic routes through town;
•the five-year schedule of cutbacks to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund; and
•costs in excess of the 50 percent funding scenario envisioned by Waste Diversion Ontario for municipalities in the north.
McCaig said the presentation also will recognize the efforts of the Ministry of Finance over the past few years in facilitating a tax agreement between the town and Resolute Forest Products.
The town also will thank the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for the provision of funding for the Rainy Lake Market Square project, and to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for agreeing to provide funding related to the last year’s emergency declaration here.
