MP Rickford says FedNor will help fund ‘modernization’ of region’s forestry industry – Kenora Daily
October 21, 2013
Local MP Greg Rickford believes last week’s Speech from the Throne demonstrates the Conservative government’s commitment to issues important to Kenora and the country in general.
In the Oct. 16 Throne Speech, the government promised it “will continue to support innovation and pursue new export opportunities for Canadian companies.” Rickford said he will be using his capacity has the minister in charge of the FedNor program to help fund the “modernization” of the region’s timber mills, with the goal of not only increasing their production, but also changing the products they make. The end result, the government hopes, will be a forestry sector which is more independent from the U.S. market and better equipped to sell overseas.
“I don’t want to see our mills reopen just because our dollar fell bellow par with the United States … we want to do more than just cut board foot and have raw materials go out,“ said Rickford.
“We want to work with the industry directly to see if there is any prospect where FedNor funding programs can partner with them.”
