Howard Hampton calls for action on St. Marys Paper

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO NDP

************************* Hampton calls for action on St. Marys Paper closure

QUEEN'S PARK - Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton today called on the McGuinty government to take action to prevent further job losses in the forestry sector.

"Northern communities are being devastated by your disastrous hydro policies, which, according to the Forestry Coalition, have cost the North 25,000 direct and indirect jobs," said Hampton. "The latest casualty is St. Marys Paper in Sault Ste. Marie which filed for CCAA bankruptcy protection last Thursday."

The NDP has repeatedly called for direct action by the McGuinty government to address this crisis that is threatening the viability of a mainstay of the Northern economy.

"St. Marys was quite clear that hydro costs were a major factor in their having to seek CCAA protection," continued Hampton. "For months now, the forestry industry, northern mayors, and unions have been demanding that your government implement a policy of $45 MGW hydro for the North. Are you going to act now to reduce northern hydro rates or are you going to let St. Marys 400 employees join the 25,000 other Northerners who have already lost their jobs?"

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