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News Release
New Manufacturer Brings Jobs to Northern Ontario
September 25, 2009
McGuinty Government Supports New Wood Product Factory In Thunder Bay
NEWS
A new wood product mill opening in Thunder Bay will create about 75 jobs and strengthen the local economy.
New Canadian company Global Sticks Inc. will build a state-of-the-art factory to manufacture Ontario wood and create sticks used for ice cream bars, popsicles, corn dogs, paint paddles and tongue depressors. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2009, and be completed by January 2010. This will also create additional economic spin off benefits including 15-20 construction jobs.
Supporting innovative companies like Global Sticks is an important part of the government’s plan to boost the competitiveness of the province’s forest industry and create opportunities in Northern Ontario.
QUOTES
"Today's announcement is good news for the community of Oliver Paipoonge and the district of Thunder Bay. Global Sticks will be a tremendous asset to our area, and will increase diversification in the wood products industry in Northwestern Ontario."
– Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
“Our government is committed to boosting value-added manufacturing in our forestry sector and strengthening the local economy to create good jobs in the North.”
- Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and Chair of the NOHFC
“We appreciate the support of the McGuinty government for our innovative value-added facility. This support was a key factor in our decision to move ahead with our plans.”
– Earl Metcalf, General Manager, Global Sticks
“Our company is very pleased to be a partner in the start-up of this important value-added wood products plant.”
- Bruce Hynnes, President, Hood Logging Equipment
QUICK FACTS
- This initiative is being supported by over $1 million in funding and over $3.8 million in loans and loan guarantees through the Ontario government’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund and the forest sector loan guarantee program.
- Global Sticks is a new Canadian company that was formed through the merger of two companies with American, Danish and British Columbia investors. These companies had previously been sourcing sticks from China.
- The Global Sticks factory will produce up to 2.9 billion food-grade wood sticks each year from northern white birch, a species that is underutilized by the forest industry.
- Read more about forest sector investment
- Find out about Ontario’s value-added wood sector
Michel Lavoie, Communications Branch, 705-564-7125
ontario.ca/north-news
177, NOHFC;910272;970148;NEP
