News Release

Growing a Sustainable, Competitive Forest Sector

August 27, 2009

McGuinty Government To Consult On Licensing, Wood Allocation And Pricing

NEWS                                           

The public will play a key role in helping Ontario’s forest industry balance economic success with sustainable practices.

Released today, Ontario’s Forests, Ontario’s Future is a discussion paper that will guide both online public comment and a series of consultations that begin next month.

The paper deals with how the province should modernize forest tenure and pricing – the system it uses to determine how wood supplies are licensed, allocated and priced, as well as the associated legal obligations.

A series of stakeholder and public consultations has been scheduled as follows: Sault Ste. Marie (September 17), Timmins (September 22), Hearst (September 24), Dryden (September 29), Thunder Bay (October 1), Marathon (October 6), Huntsville (October 13) and Pembroke (October 14). Additional sessions will be held with Aboriginal organizations and communities.

The discussion paper is available on the Environmental Registry at www.ontario.ca/environmentalregistry, Registry Number 010-7614.

QUOTES

“This review of our tenure and pricing system – which determines how companies get and pay for wood in this province – is an important step toward building a bright future for ourselves in forestry.  I believe we can create a fertile environment for new and emerging opportunities for industry while, at the same time, preserving the best of our current system.”
 - Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry

“I am happy to see my colleague is taking the opportunity to build on the good work MNR has been championing. Ontario is known for having world-class forest management standards and we need to ensure that our model adapts to changing circumstances to protect our resource now and in the future.”
- Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources

QUICK FACTS

• The 2009 Ontario budget included a commitment to create the best environment possible for Ontario forest product businesses to succeed while balancing this with sustainable practices.
• There are currently 46 Forest Management Units in Ontario, areas of Crown forest designated under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act for the purpose of organizing forest planning and operations.
  

LEARN MORE

• Review the discussion paper Ontario’s Forests, Ontario’s Future at ontario.ca/foresttenure
• Find the locations of the public consultations on the ministry’s Forestry Tenure web site at ontario.ca/foresttenure
• Read about Ontario’s Forests
  

Anne-Marie Flanagan, Minister’s Office, cell phone: 416-268-3690
Mark Speers, Director, Forest Tenure Project, 705-945-6636, cell phone: 705-943-1041

ontario.ca/forestry-news

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