Harper gets Jack-hammered over St. Marys Paper

Federal NDP leader Jack Layton was in town yesterday, launching a Jack-attack on Stephen Harper and the Conservatives for their lack of support for St. Marys Paper Ltd.

"We're here to learn how the federal government could help," Layton told reporters.

"We're very disappointed to learn from St. Marys Paper that all those announcements of dollars that the Liberals and Conservatives have made over the last number of months have never made it to actually be available to help out," Layton said. "We need to be investing in our forestry sector the way we see our competitors in northern Europe doing."

Layton said that he and Sault MP Tony Martin have been meeting with federal government officials and with St. Marys Paper Ltd. management to try to find solutions to the problems faced by the Sault's paper mill.

Martin and Layton outlined a list of top priority issues faced by the paper company which included transportation and power costs.

They said these issues are straining other forestry sector industries in Northern Ontario as well.

"We're going to go back to Tony Clement, minister responsible for FedNor, and try to convince him that its time to stop the talk and make sure that there are some real opportunities here," said Layton.

He also said he's not heard a lot of positive comments from Saultites about the direction our federal government is taking.

Layton said Saultites and other Canadians are embarrassed by Canada's policies on the environment and lack of willingness to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Accord.

Layton also said the federal government's policies on our military's presence in Afghanistan are losing popularity and being questioned by Canadians.

"It's up to the prime minister as to when there might be a non-confidence vote," he said. "If he wants to start leading Canadians in a direction they really want to go again, then it might not be necessary."