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October 31, 2011: Integrated Sector and Good Public Policy are Keys to Forest Sector’s Future

Policy to ensure secure, affordable wood supply required

The maintenance of an integrated forest sector and the development of balanced and supportive public policy that secures a cost competitive, predictable fibre supply are the keys to ensuring Ontario is well positioned to take advantage of recovering and expanding domestic and international markets.

This was the message delivered by Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) during her presentation at the ninth biennial Wood Residue Conference in Vancouver British Columbia on October 27, 2011. (more)

September 21, 2011: OFIA, NOACC, NOMA and FONOM Respectfully invite all Media to Attend a Press Conference

Provincial Party Responses to Joint OFIA, NOACC, NOMA AND FONOM Election  Commitment Letter on  Issues (more)

September 8, 2011: NEOMA and Abitibi River Forest

Copy of Northern Mayors Press Release 

Northern Mayors come together to save jobs and prevent mass extinction of their communities. (more...)

July 20, 2011: Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) Op-ed Piece

Pew Environment Group Wrong – Ontario Jobs Matter, Even in the Short Term

By:     Jamie Lim, President and CEO

          Scott Jackson, Manager of Forest Policy

Last week, the Pew Environment Group, a Seattle based special interest group, sent Premier McGuinty their campaign report advocating a stop to economic development in Ontario’s north – a part of the province that has experienced a significant economic downturn and which is subject to some of the highest regional unemployment rates in the province. The 12-page campaign report titled Keeping woodland caribou in the boreal forest uses inflammatory language, oversimplification, and rhetoric to support their assertion that Ontarians should be “tempering societal expectations” regarding prosperity and employment opportunities in favour of a decade old political agenda – the permanent protection of Ontario’s boreal forest in parks that are off limits to development. 

The cornerstone of the special interest report is the unsubstantiated allegation that parks are needed because natural resource activities (primarily forestry) and woodland caribou cannot co-exist in Ontario’s boreal forests.  A review of the facts indicates that nothing could be further from the truth. (more)

June 27, 2011: Minister Gravelle Disappoints Northern and Rural Ontario - 36% Reduction to Public Access Road Funding Program

Lack of Warning from Government Forces Contracts to be Cancelled, Throws Contractors out of Work

The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) has learned that the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry (MNDMF) is drastically cutting funding to one of its most successful competitive measures – the provincial Forest Roads Program. Hard working people, most notably small, independent contractors in Northern and rural Ontario will lose their jobs, and vital facilities enabling the forest sector and serving the public will not be built.

The Forest Roads Program, which has been fully utilized since it began in 2005, previously provided the forest sector with $75 million per year for the construction and maintenance of public access roads across Northern and rural Ontario. Despite its proven value to all users of public forests, the government is cutting the program by over $27 million – a deep reduction of more than 36%.  (more)

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 Northwestern Ontario, NOMA and the OFIA, among others, have expressed disappointment that the Bill was fast tracked through the legislative process without sufficient amendment to resolve the problematic public policy implications.  Extensive testimony was given by impacted stakeholders at public hearings held in Toronto in early April.  (more)

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 20, 2011, the McGuinty government filed a time allocation motion that would fast track the Bill through the Standing Committee on General Government and eliminate meaningful debate during committee meetings or in the House during Third Reading.

“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, 2011 the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) added its voice to a growing list of stakeholders, companies, municipalities, municipal organizations and Chambers of Commerce who have expressed concerns and opposition at the Standing Committee on General Government hearings to the Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act, 2011 (Bill 151).

"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 Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Pembroke, the provincial government overruled the proposal and voted to limit hearings to Toronto on Monday April 11th and Wednesday April 13th. (more)

March 3, 2011: Community Leaders and Organizations Get It!

Ontario's Forest Sector is Renewable