Province Opening Up Wood Supply

Ontario is opening up wood supply previously held by
some major forestry companies to all players in the field to give everyone a fair chance to get back to work.
Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle is launching a wood supply competition in the hope of creating jobs and boosting investment in the struggling sector.
The move means all existing or new forestry companies could now have access to about 11 million cubic metres of wood, much of which was previously held by established producers through older licences.
Critics have in the past accused the government of hampering the economic recovery in many northern Ontario towns by refusing to unlock wood supplies and allow new companies to set up shop where major forestry players have shut down operations.
Gravelle says he knows not everyone will be happy with the move, which may take some licences away from major players.
But he says they too will have a chance to bid for licences and adds the redistribution is needed so that both primary producers and emerging projects have a chance to get back in the game.