province memorandum

8/6/2019 Province Memorandum

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009 $1.19 plus 6 GST, $1.25 U.S.Printed in Canada Volume 114 Number 52

www.fortfrances.comemail: [email protected] ISSN 0834-6283 PAP No. 07429

ISSN 0834-6283

Be prepared for laughter asthe curtain rises on Fort Fran-ces Little Theatres productionof Suzettes Closet tomorrownight at La Place Rendez-Vous.

The play is about a Frenchmaid named Suzette, explainedTracy Gibson, who wrote the

play and is directing it.She works at a hotel and sheexplains to the audience thatone night she accidently found

herself trapped inside the closetwhile a guest was in the room.

InsideInside

See story on A6

Although winter just doesntseem to want to loosen its gripon the district, a large numberof people from across the areaturned out to celebrate SpringFever Days in Emo on April 16-18.

Merchants and event organiz-ers all were pleased with thewarm, sunny weather on Fridayand with the number of peoplewho decided to take advantageof the spring-like atmosphere.

DistrictDistrict

See story on B1

Some of the finest people in hockey often are the ones be-hind the scenes.

One man who certainly quali-fies for that distinction was

honoured at the Fort FrancesMinor Hockey Associations an-nual awards banquet on Mondaywhen local hockey supporter JimFowler was named winner of the

John Puchalski Memorial Awardfor outstanding contribution tominor hockey.

SportsSports

See story on C1

Suzettes Closetpromises laughs

41 years andstill going strong!

Fowler saluted ashockey supporter

By Duane HicksStaff writer

In the midst of mills being idled, pink slips issued, and companiesfiling for bankruptcy, there remainsclear potential for the emerging

bio-economy in Northwestern On-tario as long as the primary in-dustry can hold on and remainfunctioning.

At the Northwestern OntarioMunicipal Association conference

held here last week, Steve Watson,forestry manager for AbitibiBowa-ter Ontario Wood ProductsThun-der Bay, and communications co-ordinator Sue Prodniuk explainedthere are opportunities for newways to keep the forestry industryalive through product diversifica-tion.

Prodniuk said Northern Ontar-io has experienced an economicdownturn, with 11,000 job lossesin the forestry sector alone, manymills being idled indefinitely, andcommunities looking for economicsolutions.

While some are looking at the bio-economy and value-added products as the new panaceato correct the economic down-turn, and wondering if the biofibreeconomy is the new gold rush,she warned the reality of the situ-ation is there are major factors in

play, including:there are significant upfront

costs and resources to access fibrein Ontario (e.g., a forest manage-ment plan costs $1 million and

takes 36 months to complete);there is increasing pressure

from environmental groups for ad-ditional parks and protected areas;

forest companies have to becompetitive on a global scale, andOntarios forest are relatively slow-growing and low volume com-

pared with jurisdictions like BritishColumbia and South America;

forestry operations are spreadout and hauling costs are high;and

labour inputs and energy costsare high, and integrated operationsthat can generate their own power(like the Fort Frances mill withits biomass boiler) have a greaterchance of success.

That said, there are opportuni-ties for diversification if the for-estry industry here can stay alive

long enough.For us to move forward and

bring this new economy to frui-tion, we need to have the primaryindustry still in existence and func-tioning, Watson stressed.

Its a critical component.He added that in order to be

truly competitive in the globaleconomy, the industry has to takefull advantage of the resourcesavailable in the forest, such as treetops, branches, and hardwood spe-cies like birch and poplar.

As well, there needs to be great-er diversity in the products that aregenerated from our forests.

Biofuels and pellets are wherewe are moving, where the op-

portunities are right now, but ifyou really want to grow your bio-economy, there are other opportu-nities we are going to need to takeadvantage ofco-generation, thecombustion of black liquor fromkraft mills, and also the creation of

biochemicals, Watson noted.Another example is door panels

made from sawdust, polymers, andbiochemicals.

Its a technology thats almostwithin our grasp right now, Wat-son said. What were grapplingwith right now is how to do it on a

production basis.The main point I am trying to

make here is the forest is a renew-able resource we have available tous right now, Watson continued.And depending on how we takethose resources and process them,were going to end up with a vari-ety of products that can be gener-ated from them.

The more processes that wehave in place, the wider the rangeof products that can be generatedand the more diversity well have


With news last week that Abitibi-Bowater was granted court ordersfor creditor protection in Canadaand the United States in order torestructure in the face of a $6 bil-lion (U.S.) debt, many have beenleft wondering what this will meanfor the Fort Frances mill and thecommunity?

I really do have a concern,Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis said

yesterday. We have a concern because it interrupts the vibrantcommunity weve had in the past,

and all of a sudden our majoremployer is seeking protect underthe CCAA [Companies CreditorsArrangement Act].

I do have a tremendous concern because there are so many un-knowns well be walking through.

I have had no meetings withAbitibi at this time, so I cantspeak officially, but I hope we canwalk through this in a co-operativemanner with Abitibi, with peoplein the community, and try to de-velop a path on which we can helpeverybody get through these dif-ficult economic times, the mayoradded.

Mayor Avis said since the townhas not officially met with the com-pany since last weeks announce-ment, its premature to talk aboutwhat the restructuring may meanfor those the company owes mon-ey tolike whether Abitibi will beable to pay its municipal taxes.

Fort Frances Chamber of Com-merce president Cathy Emes saidMonday afternoon the communityseems anxious, and a little afraid

because they dont know whatsgoing to come next, particularlythe workers, who have had somedowntime, and wonder will they

have more downtime down the

road and will all of those that havebeen working there be called backto work.

I havent heard too much fromthe business community, Emesadded, though noting she expectsto soon hear more.

I do know that in the last reces-sion in the early 80s, the retailerswere affected by the recession,she said, adding that in any reces-sion, the first people to feel the

pinch are retailers and this timearound should be no different.

The last recession, the milldidnt even go down and the re-tailers [still] were feeling the pinch

because the people were holdingonto their money and not spendingit because of the uncertainty, sherecalled.

Still, in her opinion, Emes saidAbitibiBowater going into bank-ruptcy protection is a good thingfor our mill right now because itgives the company time to reor-ganize and strategize and figurethings out.

By being in bankruptcy pro-tection, what it means is that thecourts have said to everybody,You have to ease off and givethe company the opportunity toreorganize itself so that none of

the creditors can force them intobankruptcy, she explained.

So right at this point, they couldpay their bills or they could choosenot to pay their bills, but they stillowe those bills, she stressed.

Emes added, however, that shesuspects this may make some busi-nesses reluctant to sell their prod-ucts to AbitibiBowater.

AbitibiBowater stated last weekit had to pursue overall restructur-ing under court supervision onceit became clear all other viableoptions to recapitalize its long-termdebt were exhausted.


While the Northwestern OntarioMunicipal Association and sever-al other groups are speaking outagainst the proposed re-drawing oftravel regions across the province,which would see Sunset Coun-try folded into a massive regionstretching from Sault Ste. Marie tothe Manitoba border, Tourism min-ister Monique Smith said she cant

promise what will happen downthe road.

At its annual general meetingand conference held here last week,NOMA passed a resolution statingthe existing organizations in North-western OntarioSunset CountryTravel Association and North ofSuperior Tourism Associationberetained and renamed as Destina-tion Marketing and ManagementOrganizations (DMMOs), and thatthe boundaries of both remain asthey are today.

But Smith said during Fridaysbear pit session that the prov-

ince hopes to have the new travelregions in place by next year, andstakeholders will get their say laterthis month, with public consulta-tions slated in Kenora on April 29and Thunder Bay on April 30.

At these meetings, there will bediscussion about the geography forthe regions and what the regionalDMMOs, or Destination Marketingand Management Organizations,will do, what the structure will be,Smith said.

We were wondering how wewere going to finance them, butwith the recent budget announce-ment of $40 million, we will seesome dollars flowing to those orga-nizations starting next year, so we

have about a year to get these upand running, she remarked.

I am not going to commit toyou today that Sunset Country willhave its own area, Smith added.We want talk to them [stakehold-ers] about it.

We think there is a real benefitto the economies of scale, and hav-ing larger regions, I know its not

what you want to hear but justhear me out, the larger regions al-low for better marketing, for better

product to be developed and for .. . more bang for your buck, sheargued.

So we want to work with ourexisting destination marketing or-ganizations, and with the regionsthat right now do not have anyonerepresenting them, to make surethat we are able to market everyregion of the province as effective-ly as possible, and that we can takeall of the marketing dollars that areavailable and make sure they are

being used effectively as possible.Smith said about 52 percent

of accommodations in Ontario al-ready have some form of Destina-tion Marketing Fee (DMF)somecollected by the municipalities, oth-ers by Chambers of Commerce orDestination Marketing Organiza-tions, and some by establishmentsthemselves.

We dont have a real ability togovern or manage how those fundsare being spent, nor do we have

any real transparency or account-ability around those dollars, shenoted.

As we move forward with thesingle sales tax, we are going to

have a share of that three percentdesignated to marketing and wewill be able to flow that throughour organizations. We see this as areal benefit.

We know we have to work withour Destination Marketing Organi-zations that exist to make sure thatwe continue to develop and buildon the great work that theyrealready doing and theyve workedso hard to develop over the years,Smith said.

Michael Kurts, assistant deputyminister for the Ministry of Tour-ism, noted in a separate presen-tation Thursday that the map inthe report showing the 11 newregions are not [study chair GregSorbaras] recommendations as towhat the regions should be.

Its a proposal intended to spark

AbitibiBowater restructuring sparks concerns

Natural Resources minister Donna Cansfield, Grand CouncilTreaty #3 Ogichidaakwe Diane Kelly, and Northern Develop-ment and Mines minister Michael Gravelle shook hands after

signing a letter of intent last Thursday afternoon at Stanjik-oming First Nation that emphasized a commitment to furtherwork together. See story B1. Peggy Revell photo

Commitment to teamwork

Smith cant promise Sunset Country will stay

Region holdspotential toprosper in newbio-economy

Please see Smith, A12

Please see Abitibi, A12

For us to moveforward and bringthis new econo-my to fruition, weneed to have theprimary industrystill in existenceand functioning.

Steve Watson

Please see Region, A12

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District LivingWednesday, April 22, 2009

B1

By Peggy RevellStaff writer

Grand Council Treaty #3 andministers from the Ontario govern-ment marked a commitment toimprove relations between FirstNations and the province at a cer-emony last Thursday at Stanjikom-ing.

Ogichidaakwe Diane Kelly, Nat-ural Resources minister DonnaCansfield, and Northern Develop-ment and Mine minister MichaelGravelle were on hand to signa letter of intent indicating bothsides further pledge to continueto enhance a working relationshipbetween them.

Today we are here becausewe have to reconcile a relation-ship with Ontario, Kelly remarked.We need to talk about a govern-ment-to-government relationship.

As we all know, as Anishinaabe people from Treaty #3, we haveour tradition, we have our govern-ment, we have our ways of doingthings, she noted. And since thetreaty was signed in 1873, therehave been situations that have hap- pened that need to be reconciledwith the province of Ontario.

And thats the beginning ofwhat were hoping to embark upontoday . . . a relationship of recon-ciliation with the province, in par-ticular these two ministries.

I am delighted today to havethe opportunity to again forge astronger bond with the leader-ship and people of Grand Council#3, Gravelle said while thankingTreaty #3 for inviting him to thetraditional ceremony hosted withinthe roundhouse at Stanjikoming,which included blessings by theelders, songs, drumming, and eachside presenting gifts.

The letter of intent speaks toour mutual goalthe goal of build-ing on the progress made to datein improving and enhancing ourworking relationship.

I can say to you today that I donot make this pledge lightly, nordo I make it without my very full

conviction, Gravelle added.As an example of this relation-

ship between First Nations andthe Ontario government, Gravellespoke of his role as Northern De-velopment and Mines minister,where hes been entrusted withthe task of modernizing OntariosMining Acta process, he noted,that has stirred passions amongstFirst Nation communities.

But throughout the process ofupdating the legislation, Gravellesaid he has been working hardwith First Nations to include themand to ensure consultation withFirst Nations over mining.

I would hope that throughoutthis process, I have clearly dem-

onstrated to chiefs, to territorialleaders, and other First Nationsofficials from across Ontario that I,and our government, are sincere inour efforts to affect change for thebetter.

This is not to say that we willalways agree, Gravelle cautioned.To commit to such an outcomewould be disingenuous and woulddo everyone a great disservice.

But in signing this letter ofintent, I commit to putting forthmy best and most sincere effortas we work together to build andstrengthen our relationship andenable greater participation in eco-nomic opportunities for your com-munities.

I will do so with compassion,with forthrightness, and with hu-mility, Gravelle pledged.

This is a good day for the com-munities of the Grand CouncilTreaty #3 and it is a good dayfor the Ontario government, saidCansfield.

Together, were going to hold hands and were going to moveforward, she stressed, noting thatone of the most important out-comes of the discussions has beenin the commitment to building astronger relationship of trust, bothwith each other and to make thingsbetter for the Anishinaabe people.

Our government wants to forge

Province, Treaty #3 pledge to improve relations

Please see Province, B4

By Dave OgilvieEmo correspondent

Although winter just doesntseem to want to loosen its gripon the district, a large number ofpeople from across the area turnedout to celebrate Spring Fever Daysin Emo on April 16-18.

Merchants and event organizersall were pleased with the warm,sunny weather on Friday and with

the number of people who de-cided to take advantage of thespring-like atmosphere.

On Saturday, however, the tem-perature dropped and rain threat-

ened to put a damper on the an-nual event.

Despite the cool weather, at-tendance Saturday was extremelygood, with most of the crowd visit-ing businesses and indoor events.

Only a small number of bravesouls spent time on the sidewalksvisiting friends and buying hot-dogs and smokies from the Emorec council.

Staff of the Emo Public Library,

which moved their annual booksale from the arena to the library,was extremely pleased with thepublics support this year.

They sold a large number of

books, raising $950 which will beused to purchase new material forthe EPL.

We were pleased that so manynew people visited our library andtook out memberships, enthusedhead librarian Shirley Sheppard.

Kathy Leek, the other half of theEPL staff, also expressed her ap-preciation for the positive supportdemonstrated by the community.

A large crowd also turned out

for the official shaving of theheads in support of the Hair andBody Care Shoppes annual Cutsfor Cancer.

Anthony Leek, president and promoter of the Borderland Racing Association, displayedthree local cars at Norlunds during Spring Fever Days in Emo. The association currently isseeking individuals who would like to be trained on the Speednet lineup program for the2009 season at the Emo Speedway.

Gareth Dunn was one of six people who had their head shaved during Emos Spring FeverDays on Saturday in order to raise money for Cuts for Cancer. The youngster raised $388in only a couple of days. All the money raised this year will be sent to Tamarack House in

Thunder Bay, a relatively new lodge where regional cancer patients can stay while receivingtreatment.

Family fun day, which was held at the Emo curling club on Saturday as part of Spring FeverDays, was deemed a success by the organizers. The 60-70 people who dropped by weretreated to face-painting, games, and free hotdogs courtesy of the Emo rec council, and plansalready are underway for next year. Dave Ogilvie photos

41 years and still going strong!

Samantha and Dale Berg listened intently as Carol Inkster of the Purple Llama talkedabout her sock knitting machine at Crafts Galore, which was held at the Emo Legion dur-ing Spring Fever Days. A steady stream of people checked out the various crafts on displaywhile others stopped in for soup and sandwiches from the Legion kitchen.

Please see 41, B8

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B4 FORT FRANCES TIMES Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Press release

Nearly 400 prospective medicalschool students recently were atthe Northern Ontario School ofMedicine (NOSM) campuses inSudbury and Thunder Bay to un-dergo in-depth interviews as partof their application to the schoolsM.D. program.

This year, NOSM received1,845 applications. The appli-cants, many from Northern Ontar-io, are competing for 56 covetedstudent seats.

Roughly half of the candidatesselected for interviews were as-sessed in Sudbury at the schoolsEast Campus on March 28 and29 while the remainder was as-sessed in Thunder Bay on April 4and 5.

This year marks the fifth yearthe Northern Ontario School ofMedicine has accepted studentapplications, noted Dr. MarcBlayney, associate dean, Commu-nity Engagement.

Just as in previous years, weare searching for highly-motivatedstudents from a variety of back-grounds who are self-directed,and who will excel in a smallgroup-based, distributed learningenvironment, he said.

Our goal is to find those who have a strong interest in practis-ing medicine in communities inNorthern Ontario, he stressed.

Candidates in both Sudbury andThunder Bay also were given theopportunity to tour the medicalschool buildings and facilities, therespective cities, and meet withcurrently enrolled students.

We have a team of trainedcommunity volunteers, medicalschool faculty, staff, and medi-cal students helping us with theinterview process, said Dr. BlairSchoales, assistant dean of admis-sions.

We sincerely thank all the vol-unteers for giving their time andexpertise, he added. They cer-tainly made all the candidates feelwelcomed.

NOSM seeks to reflect the de-mographics of Northern Ontario,and encourages applicants who

have spent five years or more inrural, remote, or urban communi-ties in Northern Ontario, as wellas those who are Francophone,aboriginal, or from other parts ofrural Canada.

Eighteen percent of the 391 in-terviewees self-identified as Fran-cophone while seven percent self-identified as aboriginal.

Females accounted for 62 per-cent of the applications while 38

percent were male.Offers of admission from the

Northern Ontario School of Medi-cine will be sent out to successfulcandidates on May 15.

Orientation Week for NOSMsentering class of 2009 will beginon Aug. 24.

The Northern Ontario School ofMedicine is a pioneering faculty ofmedicine.

It is a joint initiative of Lake-head and Laurentian universities.

Medicalschoolhopefulsvetted

More from B1a stronger relationship and part-nership with the Anishinaabe peo-

ple, based on mutual respect andmeaningful participation, stressedCansfield, noting that as minis-ter of natural resources, she has

been given many opportunities tomeet with leaders and communi-ties across the province.

She also noted sustainability hasbeen one of her main focuses formanaging the provinces resourc-es.

And by sustainability, I mean

that our economy, our society, andour environment all [are] in syncwith one another, she explained.And, of course, that includes re-specting your aboriginal and treatyrights.

Cansfield said the letter of intentspeaks of this partnership betweenGrand Council Treaty #3 and the

provincial ministries.It also highlights [the] progress

that we have already made togeth-er, and todays signing commits usto continue to work more closelytogether, she added, highlightingvarious initiatives the government

has taken to further the partner-ship with First Nations.

As we work together in thespirit of co-operation and the spiritof mutual respect, we can enhanceour relationships and we can pro-mote the economic goals of theGrand Council and its members.

We have achieved much todate, but I look forward to thatcontinuing [in the] future. There ismuch more to do.

You have my commitment that Iwill continue personally, on behalf

of my government, to ensure thatwe will build that mutual respect,Cansfield stressed. We will make

a difference by working togetherbecause we have the same futurein mind.

For the chiefs and citizens ofthe Anishinaabe nation of Treaty#3, I hope today will be remem-

bered with pride, Kelly said fol-lowing the drumming, songs, bless-ings, and presentation of gifts thatmarked the afternoon ceremony.

If you look around at the round-house today and the community,you will see many of the uniquethings about our Anishinaabe na-tion and Treaty #3, she noted.The language and the culture arevery prominent, are very strong,and very much alive.

As I sat with the ministersthis afternoon, we talked aboutthe peacefulness of being in theroundhouse and the strengths, andI told them, particularly MinisterGravelle, this is how we do busi-ness in Treaty #3. This is howits always been and this is willcontinue to be.

Our way of life is strong and

the source of its strength is thelandthe 55,000 square miles of

Treaty #3 territory.This territory, stressed Kelly, is

one the Anishinaabe people have

protected and they have a sacredresponsibility towards sustainableuse of the land.

So today, we plan and imple-ment our plans following thosegiven to us by the Creator, and wealways remember and acknowl-edge who we are and where wecame from and our teachings thatguide us to this day, she added.

This includes the challenge ofmaintaining the Anishinaabe wayof life without the landand in theface of history.

We are righting a relationshipupset by broken promises. Weare righting a relationship upset

by forgotten obligation. We arerighting a relationship upset by a

painful history, Kelly remarked.But today, we must work to-

gether through our own efforts,together work to right this rela-tionship.

Kelly also said Ontario no lon-ger can unjustly enrich itself atthe expense of her nation, addingthat the First Nations are looking

for practical ways to resolve theirproblems.

As I sat with the honourableministers during the ceremonies,we talked about the market and

people losing their jobs, Kelly not-ed. And from our perspectivefrom the people of Treaty #3, ourcommunitieswe have the highestunemployment rates of anybodyin Ontario or in Canada.

And when we try to rememberthat people are losing their jobs,we also have to remember thatour people have been here fromtime in memorial. We are heretoday and were not going any-

where.We also have to be a part of theequation.

We dont reconcile what hasalready been reconciled with ourqueen and our chiefs in 1873 interms of the signing of Treaty #3.We honour the agreement and itscommitments, Kelly said. Butwhat we need to focus on today,and from this day forward, is howto make this relationship of mutual

benefit.One of trust and, ultimately,

one of good neighbours.This ensures the challenges that

all practices, whether fishing, tim-ber harvesting, or others, are sus-tainable for present and futuregenerations, she stressed.

This includes dialogue on man-aging and protecting the territoriesof the Anishinaabe people, as wellas enforcement policies and theconnection to the protection ofinherent treaty rights.

We will work together on theseissues to find practical and lasting

solutions that will benefit all of ourpeople, Kelly pledged.

Natural Resources minister Donna Cansfield, sitting nextto Stanjikoming Chief Janice Henderson, admired the moc-casins presented to her as one of the many gifts exchangedduring a ceremony last Thursday between the provincial

government and Grand Treaty Council #3. Peggy Revell photo

Province, Treaty #3 pledge to improve relationsWe are righting a relationship upset

by broken promises. We are righting arelationship upset by forgotten obli-gation. We are righting a relationshipupset by a painful history.

Diane Kelly

dodge.ca

April 22, B4.indd 1April 22, B4.indd 1 4/22/09 7:28:38 AM4/22/09 7:28:38 AM

province memorandum

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