Economic optimism

The North has turned a corner economically, says a provincial minister.

Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle spoke to the Port Arthur Rotary Club at the Prince Arthur Hotel on Tuesday. The Minister touched on a number of issues from the state of Ontario’s prospects and future job opportunities in the New Year.

"We have a remarkable future here in Northwestern Ontario," Gravelle said. "We need to be in a position to choose our future from an economical point of view."

The forestry and mining industries faced a number of challenges in 2009, but Gravelle said he expects a positive change for both sectors this year.

For the mining sector, the modernization of the Mining Act would help bring a return in investments and create clarity in Ontario, he said.

That wouldn’t be the only positive shift in the industry’s fortune. A big asset to mining would be the discovery of chromite, which Gravelle predicts could be as big of a discovery as nickel in Sudbury.

"It’s clear to me we need to change how we do things," he said.

As for the forestry sector, Gravelle said the industry remains in a process of transformation.

One of minister’s plans for the industry, which he announced late in 2009, was to create competition for 11 million cubic metres of the 26 million cubic metres of harvestable wood.
Companies interested in bidding for the wood have until Mar. 4.

Gravelle said some companies have not harvested for years and didn’t use all of their resources when they did.

"We want to put that wood to work," he said.

One person who listened to the speech questioned the minister about the power required for such projects.

Gravelle responded by saying half of a $2.3 billion investment is being spent to upgrade Hydro transmission lines in Northwestern Ontario.