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Eric Melillo Jan 26 2026

Mill closures raised in House of Commons

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The federal government is being pushed to help the forest industry in northwestern Ontario.

Workers at mills in Ear Falls, Ignace and Thunder Bay have been impacted by recent closure announcements.

The sawmill in Ear Falls has been idle since October, while the Ignace mill will halt production in March.

The closures impact a combined workforce of about 330 workers.

Last week, it was announced that the newsprint line at Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper will be shut down.

Kenora-Kiiwetinoong MP Eric Melillo recently raised the issue in the House of Commons.

“Every day, more closures are announced,” states Melillo.

“These are good-paying jobs for hard-working Canadians that are now gone. The government’s rhetoric of supporting workers is not matching the reality of the workers who are losing their jobs.”

The Liberal government insists that it is helping the forest industry.

“The government stands with forestry workers,” said Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

“We have announced $2.5 billion in supports. We have a task force active right now looking at additional supports.”

Last fall, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $1.25 billion aid package to support the softwood lumber sector.

It included $700 million in loan guarantees to help companies confront immediate pressures facing the softwood lumber sector, and another $500 million to diversify products and markets.

Another $50 million has been earmarked for workers to reskill and find employment elsewhere.

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Road Work On Overpass Underway

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A reminder of traffic disruptions starting Thursday in Dryden.

Public Works is starting road repairs on the Duke Street Overpass.

The road will be closed to south bound traffic, while the north bound lane will remain open.

The sidewalk will be off-limits to pedestrians.

Delays can be expected and you should consider alternate routes.

The work is scheduled from 7am until 7pm daily until October 2nd.

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Aaron Park Open; Several Facilities Remain Closed

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While some facilities have reopened in the City of Dryden, a number remain closed.

Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt has provided an update on what is open and what is closed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Memorial Arena will be closed to the public until September 1st.

Nesbitt says user groups have been notified.

The Pool and Fitness Centre remains closed until further notice, while Park rentals have been cancelled for large groups.

Nesbitt adds “All playground equipment remains closed and that’s under Ontario Provincial government order. All public washrooms in our parks and outdoor spaces remain closed. All splash pads in the City remain closed.”

There is some good news as Aaron Park has finally reopened for day use and overnight camping.

The City was anxiously awaiting the go-ahead from the province as other parks were allowed to open.

However, Nesbitt says there are no public showers or laundry services under provincial COVID-19 health regulations.

Nesbitt notes the Sandy Beach Ball Diamonds and Soccer Field is open with strict health standards in place.

Services at City Hall have resumed, including the Provincial Offences counter, but visitor restrictions are in place.

The Museum is now allowing visitors through a booking and some in-house water works services have resumed.

 

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Province Almost Ready For School Closure Decision

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We will soon find out when or if Ontario schools will reopen.

Premier Doug Ford provided an update on Saturday afternoon.

“Next week we will be announcing that. We just want to look at the numbers again. We’ve had an in-depth conversation with the Minister of Education and he’ll be making an announcement next week on that.”

Ford has also stated that any decision to cancel schools for the year is also based on the advice of Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.

Schools across the province were originally shutdown on March 14th due to COVID-19.

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Ontario Emergency Order And Closures Extended

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The provincial government is extending all emergency orders for a couple of more weeks.

The move is being made under the direction of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and is now in effect until May 19th.

The order calls for the closure of establishments, non-essential businesses, outdoor recreational facilities as well as public lands for camping.

Organized public events and certain gatherings are prohibited.

The Ford government declared a COVID-19 provincial emergency on March 17th.

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Camping Plans Out For Month Of May

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Bad news if you had camping plans for the May long weekend.

The Ford government has closed provincial parks until May 31st to keep people safe and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the closure includes car camping, backcountry camping, roofed accommodations, day use opportunities, access points and all public buildings.

All recreational activities are also banned.

Reservations for arrivals up to, and including, any further closure extension date will be automatically cancelled and reservation holders will receive a full refund with no penalty.

Full refunds will also be provided to anyone who wishes to cancel or change any 2020 camping reservation.

Elliott says “We understand this extension may impact many Ontarians’ plans during the month of May. However, the health and well-being of Ontarians is our government’s number one priority. Although we are making progress to stop the spread, the virus has not yet been contained. As a result, all but essential service workers must continue to stay at home and practice physical distancing.

Aaron Park in Dryden also remains closed until further notice.

Camping on Crown land is also not allowed during the health crisis.

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Mild Weather Closes Area Ice Roads

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A reminder from police across northwestern Ontario that ice conditions are no longer safe this time of year.
On Wednesday, an elderly woman went through the ice on Lake of the Woods in Keewatin.
OPP say she was rescued by police and sustained no injuries.
In order for ice to be considered “safe”, it must be four to six inches thick.
The mild weather and rain has created unstable ice conditions on all lakes, rivers and waterways across the region.
Area ice roads are closed and the public is being urged to stay inside during the COVID-19 crisis.
All public docks are off-limits under provincial direction.
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Reminder Of Local Park Closures

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The City of Dryden is reminding the public of provincially mandated closures of all outdoor recreational facilities and parks due to COVID-19.

Fines of up to $1,000 may be enforced under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for failing to comply by the order.

Appropriate signage indicating the closures will be posted at the sites.

Aaron Park is included in the shutdown.

Here is a list of other closures until further notice:

-Kinsmen Park Splash Pad
-Plumridge Park Splash Pad
-All Playground Equipment in all Parks
-Roy Wilson Suspension Bridge
-Public Washrooms in Parks
-Dryden Skatepark
-Milestone Rink
-All Ball Diamonds and Associated Facilities
-All Soccer Field Facilities and the Soccer Fieldhouse
-Sandy Beach Park Pavilion
-Duke Street Dock Gathering area
-Earl’s Court Gathering area
-Mosaic art installation in Cooper Park
-Community Garden

Green spaces in parks, trails and conservation areas are available for the public to use, but individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of two metres apart during recreation.

Docks remain open for use but gathering at docks is prohibited.

 

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Schools Likely To Stay Closed Past April 5th

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There’s no official word from the Minister of Education yet on whether schools in the province will be forced to stay closed past April 5th.

The Premier has said it is an ever-evolving situation and notes the schools will most likely not be opening up as originally planned.

“We are taking this day by day, so do I believe and does the Education Minister believe the kids will be going back to school on April 6th? The kids won’t be going back to school on April 6th. We will be making sure we give a proper time frame,” Ford told media in an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But again, this is changing hour by hour, day by day, and I have all the confidence in the world in Minister Lecce and he’ll make the right decision. We look forward to him monitoring the situation in education,” Ford added.

The Education Minister released a letter to school boards and parents on Sunday about the ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

The provincial government announced a series of online educational tools that students will partake in during the pandemic rather than returning to school following the March break.

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Dryden Ski Hill Closed For Season

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An early closure for the Dryden Ski Hill.

The Board of the Ski Club has decided to end the season by cancelling week long events, including the Sunday Slush Bowl, because of recent concerns over COVID-19.

The move is to keep everyone safe and officials are thanking the public for their patronage this winter.

Mount Evergreen in Kenora and Loch Lomond in Thunder Bay are also closed.

 

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