FONOM and NOMA say forestry sector needs long-term stability
A couple of northern municipal groups continue to urge governments to secure long-term stability for Northern Ontario’s forestry sector.
While the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) welcome recent support for the Kapuskasing Paper Mill, they say the industry needs urgent and coordinated action.
They point to the recent announcement of the idling of the Ear Falls sawmill.
“Now more than ever, we need the Government of Canada — led by Prime Minister Mark Carney — and the Province of Ontario, under Premier Doug Ford, to work at lightspeed to secure a fair and durable trade agreement with the United States that protects, strengthens, and rebuilds lasting economic viability for sawmills like Ear Falls and mills like Kap Paper,” says Dave Plourde, FONOM President and Mayor of Kapuskasing. “The people of Northern Ontario deserve stability and certainty — and we cannot afford to lose another cornerstone industry.”
NOMA and FONOM continue to call on all levels of government, along with labour and industry partners to remain united and focused on developing a comprehensive, long-term strategy that safeguards jobs, fosters innovation, and ensures the future of Northern Ontario’s forestry sector.
On Friday, the Ontario government announced it is investing an additional $16.8 million to support continued operations of the Kapuskasing Paper Mill while the federal government announced $12 million in new support.
Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
