Forest Crisis Meeting-Aftermath

Over 400-people packed the Dryden Auditorium Tuesday night to deliver a
strong message to the Province, do something now to save the forest
industry!
Mayor Anne Krassilowsky was one of the speakers at the Forest Industry
Crisis meeting and she took the time to launch the “We Care” campaign.
“We Care” buttons are now circulating the community and 1,000 more will be sent to Toronto next month when Municipal leaders meet with Provincial Ministers.
All Northerners are being urged to write, phone and e-mail the Premier
and the Minister of Finance demanding immediate action.
Soaring electricity rates, high delivery costs, a rising Canadian
dollar and increased competition on the global market are just some of the
factors behind the crisis in the forest industry.
Dryden Mill Manager Norm Bush says they need the Government to immediately act on the recommendations contained in the Forest Council report as the situation becomes more critical each day.
Cec Makowski is the Ontario Vice-President of the Communications,
Energy and Paperworkers Union and says the Government also needs to conduct an audit of the wood supply and provide the same kind of relief for the industry that the auto sector receives.
Makowski adds the Province is not taking the issue seriously.
The forest sector generates $19-billion annually and employees
275,000 people Province-wide.