Provincial Help Sought

The Ontario Forest Industries Association wants the provincial government to free up more land for logging.

President Jamie Lim says the move is needed to help the economies of northern Ontario communities, carrying unemployment rates at high as 48 per cent.

"Wee don't see any recognition by the Ministry of Natural Resources or the government as a whole that they have to start looking at their public policy," says Lim, "and asking how is it going to impact these communities economically."

Lim says freeing up more land for logging would help communities take advantage of improved markets when the economy turns around.