New Ministry Created

A new ministry responsible for both mining and forestry in province has been created.


The new Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry will falls to Michael Gravelle.


Gravelle says bringing two of northern Ontario's key industries under one Ministry make sense.


"Forestry and mining are two key economic drivers in the province and certainly northern Ontario," says Gravelle, "and for the Premier to ask me to take it on is a signal that this is a very high priority for this government."



Gravelle says expects the details regarding the funding and staffing for the new ministry to be determined over the next few weeks.



Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton isn't all that excited about the creation of the new ministry.



Hampton says moving the responsibility of forestry from the Ministry of Natural Resources does little to help the forest industry.


"I would have welcomed an announcement that the Ontario was prepared to put some debtor-in-possession financing into the restructuring of AbitibiBowater," says Hampton. "That would have made a difference."



Hampton calls yesterday's announcement as nothing more than cosmetic without a real plan for forest industry.