A Northern Ontario MPP is asking the Wynne Liberals to better support the forestry industry. Northern Development Critic Michael Mantha questioned the province over what he calls inaction, over a mill closing in Hornepayne.
Mantha says about 40 per cent of the towns population have received layoff notices, which doesn’t include spin-off jobs, like trucking, suppliers, and logging companies. He says the government has talked about badly needed jobs in the North.
The Minister of Forestry, Bill Mauro, says the province is working on the issue. He says it’s an issue they take very seriously, because the province understands that that the majority of forestry operations in Ontario are in the north, and are in very small communities.
Mauro wouldn’t promise a solution, but he did say the ministry will work on it and hope to come to an answer for Hornepayne, and the rest of the industry.