Eric Melillo

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.