mills

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.