Seeing is believing

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle is eagerly awaiting a peek at the now temporarily closed Global Sticks’s latest business plan.

The Thunder Bay MPP confirmed on Thursday he’s spoken with company CEO Reggie Nukovic and promised government assistance, but stressed it won’t be in the form of taxpayer dollars.

Gravelle said Nukovic does need a $2-million cash injection, but has said he’ll turn to the private sector to find it.

“From our perspective, we’ve committed to work with the company. We told them it was very important that we see the new business plan and the new restructuring plan now that it is completed,” Gravelle said.

“We’re hoping to have a good look at it as soon as possible.”

The company was applauded by Gravelle and the Liberal government when Global Sticks announced in 2009 it was moving its base of operations from China to Oliver Paipoonge. The province kicked in about $7 million toward the project, with $5.8 million in loan guarantees and other grants going directly to the company.

Gravelle wouldn’t speculate how the government might help Global Sticks, which informed employees in November it was shutting its doors to restructure, putting the vast majority of the company’s 84 employees out of work.

However, given that a portion of the money received from the province must be paid back, it’s not a stretch to speculate the government might alter the repayment timetable to help the ice cream stick manufacturing company get back on its feet.

“I’m going to be a little careful, if I may,” Gravelle said. “Certainly there were obligations in terms of some of the aspects of the loan portions of the government’s investments in the company. We’re willing to speak to them to potentially make some adjustments to that.

“But again, those discussions have to happen after we’ve seen the business plan, and that will be something obviously we’re hoping to do early next week.”

Repeated calls to Nukovic for comment were not returned on Wednesday and Thursday.