Nearly half of Ontario's forestry sector assistance funding has yet to be designated

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath wants to know why the Ontario government has yet to distribute forestry assistance funding that was announced five years ago.

Through a freedom of information request by the Ontario NDP, Horwath learned that $236 million of the $500 million in forestry sector assistance promised by the Dalton McGuinty government sits unused.

“A freedom-of-information request submitted by my office found that $236-million sits unused. It is scandalous that hundreds of millions of dollars were left untouched as job losses decimated forestry communities across the North.”

“More importantly, why do hundreds of millions of forestry dollars sit in a Toronto bank account while families in Northern Ontario continue to lose good jobs?” Horwath asked the Premier.

Horwath also wants to know why the government has refused to provide a complete list of companies that have received public money and demanded to know why the Premier is hiding the details of $180 million worth of government grants and loans.

Source: Ontario NDP