THUNDER BAY, ON – Yesterday, (August 16, 2011) a Memorandum of Understanding (Click underlined text to read/view MOU) was signed between Ginoogaming First Nation and the Municipality of Greenstone.

Mayor Renald Beaulieu said, "I am extremely optimistic about the Province providing the required fibre allocation. As indicated in our draft Business Plan, the proposed projects would create 330 direct jobs, 768 indirect jobs in our Region and 571 induced jobs in Southern Ontario."

The MOU states that Greenstone and Ginoogaming shall endeavour to procure a wood allocation from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry to restart the Waferboard Plant and parts of the Plywood Plant in Longlac.

Chief Celia Echum stated, “We are very hopeful that we can get hundreds of people from both of our communities back to work by having the Province allocate the fibre necessary for the operation of the mills. This requested fibre would be provided from the huge amounts of hardwood which are presently not being utilized in our region.”

The parties await the fibre allocation from the Province in order to proceed with the opening of the mills and the future development of related projects.

This will provide training, employment and substantial economic benefits for First Nations and the Greenstone region.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Provincial Wood Supply competition wraps-up (June 22, 2011)
• Taking Next Steps To Modernize Forest Sector Near Marathon (coverage incl. videos of speeches by area Chiefs and Mayors). (May 26, 2011)
• SUPPORTING THE FOREST INDUSTRY IN CHAPLEAU  (June 28, 2011)
• Province provided a conditional $25 million term loan to Terrace Bay Pulp Inc. to help refinance the restart of the mill in 2010. (October 5, 2010)

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