Wood allocation bidding ends

The deadline in a competitive process that the province says will spur investment and create jobs in the forest sector has come and gone.

Last November the Minister responsible for forestry, Michael Gravelle, announced the competition for about 11-million cubic metres of wood in Ontario.

Gravelle said the provincial government recognized the need to put Ontario's wood back to work. The deadline was pushed back to March 31 to give many of the groups involved in the bidding additional time to put in their projects.

Gravelle added that the review process is underway and assures it will be fair one.

The minister says there was interest from groups all across Northern Ontario. Ministry staff will be busy over the coming months reviewing the proposals, and Gravelle says he still wants to move ahead with decisions on successful proponents, as soon as possible.

Recommendations are expected within the next six months.