Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is attacking the McGuinty Liberals for not spending all of the money in the government's forest sector assistance fund.
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is attacking the McGuinty Liberals for not spending all of the money in the government's forest sector assistance fund.
Through a freedom-of-information request submitted by the NDP, Horwath said $236 million sits unused of the $500 million fund.
During April 20 Question Period in the Ontario Legislature, Horwath called it "scandalous" that hundreds of millions of dollars were "left untouched as job losses decimated forestry communities across the North.
"More importantly, why do hundreds of millions of forestry dollars sit in a Toronto bank account while families in Northern Ontario continue to lose good jobs?"
Horwath said nine paper machines have been closed in the Thunder Bay region alone.
She criticized the government's refusal to provide a complete list of companies that have received public money. "Large parts that list, large parts of the information that we've requested, are simply blacked out. Why is the Premier hiding the details of $180 million worth of government grants and loans?"
Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle said the Ontario's forest sector has received an "unprecedented" amount of money with companies being able to leverage more than $870 million in private investment from $205 million in government funding, $141 million in loan guarantees, $94 million in pulp and paper electricity rebates and $296 million in road construction costs uploaded to the province and stumpage relief.
"Again, we are also looking at new opportunities through the competitive wood supply process," said Gravelle. "That application process closed on March 31. We look forward to putting Ontario's wood to work, and I know there's tremendous enthusiasm all across Northern Ontario."
.jpeg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
