MNR Cuts Jobs In Northwestern Ontario

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the Ministry of Natural Resources is cutting 102-jobs in Ontario, including several positions in Northwestern Ontario.
Dryden is losing 7-positions, Red Lake 2-positions, Sioux Lookout 2-positions, Fort Frances 2-positions, Kenora 3-positions and Thunder Bay 7-positions.
Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall says it’s never good to see job losses in your own community, and is a bit worried about what’s going to happen to the fisheries and similar departments.
All of the affected employees were given notice today and includes administrative support staff, digital mapping staff, regulatory compliance staff, foresters and biologists.
However the plan is to also hire 250 new people, which is a combination of new and vacant positions.
The move is due to budget cutbacks, considering after the 2012 budget, MNR staff were told their ministry’s budget was being cut by $70 million over three-years.
The 2013 Provincial Budget restored $40 million dollars, and OPSEU calculates the MNR has to come up with $20 million in savings.
Changes also include moving the jobs of 40-field staff to new locations, and dissolving its science division and move its functions to other divisions.