Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is heaping more blame on the McGuinty government for its “continued apathy” toward the struggling forestry industry.
AbitibiBowater is shutting down two paper machines indefinitely at its Thunder Bay mill.
Hampton is blaming the provincial government's “wrong-headed hydro policies” that have put thousands out of work. He is renewing his call for an industrial hydro rate adding Ontario power has more than twice the rate of Manitoba.
Hampton wants an “all-included” industrial hydro rate in the forestry sector of $45 per megawatt hour.
AbitibiBowater blames the shutdown of its two newsprint machines on sagging global demand and is warning its unionized workforce that more shutdowns and mill closures could be coming. The company, which is operating under court-ordered bankruptcy protection, plans to cut head office staff by 25 per cent in Montreal and U.S.
About 350 workers will be affected by the shutdown.
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