The mayor of Ignace believes his community has been “abandoned” by the Ontario government in getting the local forestry industry back on its feet.
“We need to convince this government that Ignace is still the right place to be in the forestry business,” said Lee Kennard in a statement.
“We have a strategic location for doing business and we're disappointed with the delays in putting people back to work in our forests.”
The northwestern Ontario town of 1,200 recently lost out on a wood pellet plant after an application by Far North Biomass was rejected by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry in the provincial wood supply competition.
Kennard said a second company, which has applied for a fibre allotment of Crown forest, hasn't yet heard anything from the province.
Kennard said there needs to be more communication between government agencies and “people working in the bush” to create more opportunities for small contractors and local ownership in the forestry industry.
Located on the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Kenora, the community has lost much of its skilled workforce to the mining industry.
Kennard estimates 20 workers still maintain homes in Ignace and wouldn't hesitate to return if there were work in the forestry industry.
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