Rushton Wants Details of Forestry Transition Fund

The Conservative Lands and Forestry critic says the Minister of of that department must release more details about the $50 million transition plan for the forestry sector affected by the impending closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County.

Tory Rushton says, “Everyone agrees that we need to help the sector and relieve some pressures.” He added, “Forestry workers are anxiously waiting to hear more. I’m worried that the government isn’t moving as quickly as it should be.”

In the 2019-20 departmental business plan, the Liberals announced a pilot project to heat six provincial buildings using “junk wood” and chips similar to what is done on Prince Edward Island. A Request for Proposals was issued in June, but as of Friday the department has released no information.

With Northern Pulp closing, Rushton says members of the industry deserve to know where the government stands on a number of projects, but specifically with small-scale wood energy projects.

There has been much talk about the company having five years to avoid this closure. Rushton says workers can’t afford delays to any projects related to diversifying the market for this vital sector, particularly when government has had five years to develop alternative plans.

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