2009-04-21
07:49:53
Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty says the Harper government isn't doing enough to help forestry workers caught in the wake of mill closures and bankruptcies.
Speaking the house of the commons yesterday, Rafferty accused the federal government for failing to bring forward a national forestry strategy.
"Over the last five years 45,000 jobs have been lost, large producers like AbitibiBowater and smaller producers like Buchanan Forest Products are going bankrupt," says Rafferty." Where was the elimination of the waiting period for employment insurance for forestry workers in communities right across Thunder Bay—Rainy River who have to go a full two weeks without any income when they are laid off? Where are the loan guarantees for healthy and profitable small businesses that are seeing their access to credit dry up"
"The government is apparently not interested in helping all forestry producers, communities and families get through this crisis. If the government wants to consider itself a truly national party in government, now is the time for a national forestry strategy."
Rafferty says his request for a national forestry summit was recently turned down by the federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt.
