Press Releases
Joint Release - May 5, 2011: Final Version of Bill 151 (Tenure Reform) Falls Short of McGuinty Government’s Commitment to Address Serious Concerns
Government says ‘no’ to including economic development as a primary objective
Impacted parties reach out to Government, requesting constructive engagement
The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (NOACC), the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) are expressing continued concern with the final content of Bill 151, the Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act (OFTMA). On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 the Standing Committee on General Government met to vote on final amendments to the controversial Bill, which due to a time allocation motion filed by the McGuinty Government, did not include an opportunity for discussion or debate.
The Chambers of Commerce across
April 26, 2011: McGuinty Government Shuts Down Debate on Controversial Bill 151 (Forest Tenure Reform)
Government Continues to Ignore and Misrepresent Stakeholder Input
Members of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) are alarmed with the McGuinty government’s efforts to shut down any further debate on the controversial Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act (OFTMA) (Bill 151). On Wednesday April
“This gives a cold shoulder to the overwhelming majority of stakeholders who have expressed their concerns and opposition to Bill 151 at the Standing Committee on General Government hearings” says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA. “It is very clear that the government is not interested in anyone’s opinions that differ from its own”. (more)
April 18, 2011: Overwhelming Stakeholder Opposition to Bill 151 at Standing Committee Hearings
OFIA Sends Letter to Minister Outlining Outstanding Concerns
On Wednesday April 13,
"Not only did we present to the Standing Committee at the hearings, we were in attendance for all of the presentations" says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA. "The clear majority of presenters, specifically those that will be impacted by this Bill, expressed concern. It was very clear that people are asking the government to slow this process down," added Lim.
During her presentation to the Standing Committee, Lim outlined that the OFIA represents 27 member companies, and as such, does not look at Bill 151, or any other regulatory mechanism, with an eye to assessing how it impacts any one company. "We look at all public policy with the purpose of doing what is in the best interest of the forest sector as a whole, and Bill 151 will create serious uncertainty at a time when the industry is beginning to recover." (more)
April 5, 2011: Ontario Government Ignores Northern and Rural Ontario on Bill 151 (Forest Tenure)
McGuinty Liberals vote against hearings outside of Toronto
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) has joined a growing number of organizations and municipalities across northern and rural Ontario who are in opposition to yesterday’s unilateral decision by the provincial government to reject holding hearings in Northern and rural Ontario on Bill 151, An Act to enact the Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act and to amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.
Despite recommendations from opposition parties to hold a series of hearings in Northern and rural municipalities, including
March 3, 2011: Community Leaders and Organizations Get It!
Ontario's Forest Sector is Renewable
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is pleased to announce that on March 2,
The United Nations General Assembly declared
January 26, 2011: Ontario Government Proposal Will Not Protect Jobs
Lack of Socio-Economic Impact Assessments associated with Caribou Conservation Plan Continues to Raise Concerns/Jeopardize Northern Communities
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) welcomes the public and stakeholder consultations announced on January 24, 2011 regarding the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) proposed approach to a Caribou Habitat Regulation under
“We look forward to participating in the town hall meetings because up until now there has been no consideration of the negative economic impacts that the Endangered Species Act and its associated policies, including the Caribou Conservation Plan will have on Ontario’s forest sector and the over 260 communities that it supports” says
January 25, 2011: Ontario’s Forest Sector Looking for Certainty
OFIA to Present Pre-Budget Recommendations in Thunder Bay
Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA), will be presenting the OFIA’s
January 13,
Modified Government Proposal Provides Clarity
Revisions to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry (MNDMF) proposed tenure reforms, announced earlier today by Minister Gravelle in Thunder Bay, are being met with support from the members of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA).
“We want to thank Minister Gravelle for carefully considering our concerns regarding tenure and pricing reform. The proposed path forward is a positive development and provides much needed certainty for operating mills, while creating opportunities for new investment in the sector. We look forward to working constructively with the Ontario government to implement and evaluate the various tenure systems that will evolve across the province over the next several years” says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA. (more)
October 18, 2010: Election Countdown: Time for Premier McGuinty to Save Northerners’ Jobs
Forest sector counting on government to ignore the rhetoric and ‘campaign science’ of special interest fundraisers that would threaten thousands of jobs
In response to recent attempts by Greenpeace, a special interest fundraising group, to spread misinformation and fear regarding caribou, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is speaking out to remind Premier McGuinty and his colleagues of two vitally important facts – one, forest dwelling woodland caribou are currently protected under the platinum standard, world class Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA), and two, if the government of Ontario allows itself to be swayed by the ‘campaign science’ of these special interests, they will decimate northern Ontario.
Central to the concerns of the OFIA is the special interest campaign request to remove large tracts of land from all industrial development, including forestry.
“This is pretty standard rhetoric for these kinds of professional panic merchants” says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA, “unfortunately it is not grounded in fact.” (more)
September 29, 2010: Environmental Commissioner’s Office in over their head
Modern forest management proves difficult for ECO to understand
In order to set the record straight, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is responding to several inflammatory and incorrect statements made by the Environmental Commissioner’s Office (ECO) in a media release dated September 22, 2010.
“Many of the ECO statements are a gross oversimplification or are outright just misleading”, says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA, adding “you really have to wonder where they are sourcing their information”.
Of particular concern is the ECO attempt to erroneously paint natural resource sectors, including forestry, as ‘status quo’ or ‘business-as-usual’ sectors that have remain unchanged for 150 years.
“There is no such thing as status quo with regards to forest management in
May 17, 2010: Forest Companies – Big, Small, Traditional, New, All Agree that Tenure Proposal is Flawed - Government Recommendations Threaten to Undermine Progress
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is giving the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry top marks for two of its recent initiatives – the Provincial Wood Supply Competition, which makes available approximately 30% of the province’s industrial fibre supply to existing facilities and new entrants, and the continued move to Co-operative Sustainable Forest Licenses (SFLs).
“We see both of these initiatives as very progressive” says Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA. “If continued and done properly, these will provide certainty to forest companies, big and small, traditional and value added, and will put people back to work – something that is desperately needed”.
However, the OFIA, which represents members ranging from multi-national companies to family owned and operated value added mills, believes the recent government proposal on tenure reform, A Proposed Framework to Modernize Ontario’s Forest Tenure and Pricing System, will undermine the potential gains associated with these initiatives and jeopardize the future of the industry. (more)
March 23, 2009: Caribou Habitat Regulation Expected to Have Major Economic Impacts – Loss of Jobs, Threatened Communities
A recent socio-economic impact assessment conducted by the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA), with support from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry (MNDMF) indicates that the Habitat Regulation for Forest-Dwelling Woodland Caribou (an ecotype of a sub-species of a species that is more common than moose or deer in Canada) could remove up to 33% of northern Ontario’s industrial fibre supply resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and threatening the survival of numerous northern communities. (more)
November 4, 2009: Government Endorses Loss of 196 More Forestry Jobs - job losses equal one mill closure
On November 2, 2009 the McGuinty government publicly released its internal recommendations to reduce the area available for sustainable forest management in Algonquin Park. Despite claims from the government that the impacts on the forest sector and rural communities will be minimal, the Algonquin Forest Authority, which co-authored the report, has clearly expressed reservations, stating within the report itself that they are “unable to say with certainty that this Proposal will not negatively impact the forest industry and local communities.” (more)
October 26, 2009: 48% Drop in Corporate Tax Revenues Comes as No Surprise - Tip of the Iceberg for rural and northern communities
Last week, municipal leaders and forest sector representatives held a public Town Hall Meeting in Barry’s Bay to discuss their concerns with two controversial provincial government initiatives – the Wood Turtle Habitat Regulation and the “Lightening the Footprint” campaign in Algonquin Park. (more)
September 9, 2009: Forestry in Ontario just got more complicated instead of more competitive – “realignment toolbox” empty!
In June, Premier McGuinty announced he was transferring forestry to Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) in order to “strengthen our economy, create jobs and provide opportunities for Ontario families”. Minister Gravelle was asked to build a more competitive forest sector by managing the economic and business side of forestry. Last week, the government provided Minister Gravelle with an empty toolbox. After reviewing the “realignment toolbox”, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) believes it lacks the fundamental tools to allow the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, and Forestry (MNDMF) to fulfill the Premier’s request to lead the economic and business aspects of forestry in Ontario and create a more competitive forest sector. (more)
August 13, 2009: Ontario Builder - Marshall Homes Promotes Concept of All Ontario Wood-Built Homes
Oshawa, ON – Ontario builder Marshall Homes has built a home using Ontario wood products only, as a way to demonstrate the company’s support for the province’s forestry industry and to encourage builders in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and elsewhere in the province to do the same. (more)
August 4, 2009: OFIA and CLA – A New Beginning Built on a Strong Foundation
Lammert Jagt, Chair of the Canadian Lumbermen’s Association (CLA) and Jean-Francois Merette, Chair of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) are pleased to announce the merger of two of forestry’s best known and historical associations. (more)
June 25, 2009: FORESTRY MOVE TO MNDMF – What does it mean for the sector?
The announcement that Forestry will move from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to the new Ministry of Northern Development Mines and Forestry (MNDMF) has potential to maximize forestry opportunities in Ontario. While many of the details have not been announced, including which files and responsibilities will move over to MNDMF, the OFIA believes that they have a champion in MNDMF and Minister Gravelle, a member of Ontario’s northern caucus. (more)
June 17, 2009: BILLION DOLLAR ANNOUCEMENT ALLOWS ONTARIO PULP AND PAPER MILLS TO EXHALE – Keeps people working and tackles climate change.
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) welcomed today’s federal government announcement. The new Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program addresses the inequity created by the United States black liquor subsidy that has been threatening the viability and competitiveness of Canada’s pulp and paper mills. (more)
April 27, 2009: OFIA SUPPORTS ONTARIO’S TENURE REVIEW
Minister Cansfield, speaking at the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) Annual Meeting on April 23rd, 2009 announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) plans to review and reform Ontario’s tenure model with the initial establishment of an expert panel. (more)
April 1, 2009: Minister Stockwell Day Does the Right Thing.
The Ontario Forest Industry Association (OFIA) and the Québec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) support the Government of Canada’s actions to comply with the London Court of International Arbitration’s (LCIA) decision of late February 2009. (more)
March 17, 2009: OFIA and QFIC ask Government of Canada – DO THE RIGHT THING
Quebec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) and the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) held a joint press conference this morning to take stock of the situation following the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) decision submitted on February 26th 2009. A joint press conference showing that both industrial Associations are on the same page is a precedent in the history of OFIA and QFIC. (more)