NDP MPP Gilles Bisson says the McGuinty Liberal plan to conserve half of Ontario’s boreal forest is nothing more than a hollow announcement.

“New Democrats support conservation of the boreal forest, however, this announcement is short on details and long on promises. The McGuinty Liberals have created a lot of uncertainty in the North, which is already facing economic hardship. We have to ensure there is a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable development,” said Bisson.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton called on the McGuinty Liberals today to keep their promises and release money they announced multiple times over the last three years to bolster the forestry industry.

Hampton was responding to a statement made yesterday by Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield that she didn’t have a “magic wand” that would fix the crisis affecting the forestry industry.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton says Northern Ontario forest industry communities need hydro rate reductions now to sustain jobs and avoid more layoffs in the forest sector.

More than 2000 forest sector workers, across Northern Ontario, have lost their jobs since the October provincial election.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton says real action is needed to help the forestry sector with the news of layoffs at four more mills in Northern Ontario.

“Almost a thousand more people have lost their jobs and all Dalton McGuinty does is point fingers at Stephen Harper and play the blame game. After years of mill closures, layoffs and damage to the forest industry communities, Northerners deserve to know: What is Dalton McGuinty’s plan to reposition the forest industry and when are we going to see some results?” asked Hampton.

Beaches-East York NDP MPP Michael Prue today announced that he is lobbying NDP Leader Howard Hampton and his colleagues in the NDP caucus to be named the NDP’s new natural resources critic.

“Unlike the new minister of natural resources, I actually have some experience with the North. I mean, I go fishing with Gilles Bisson every year in Northern Ontario. I even put my own worm on the hook. I wouldn’t even need to hire a high-priced handler to do that,” Prue said.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton called on the Minister of Natural Resources to ensure that local media in Northern Ontario are effectively notified about changes in the forest fire situation.

Sootoday.com reported today that the Ministry of Natural Resources East Fire Communications no longer sends out regular email updates on the fire situation. Instead media outlets are told to monitor the Ministry’s Forest and Aviation Web Site for updated information on forest fires.