Hampton says sale of power dams could cost jobs

QUEEN’S PARK - MPP Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River) says the McGuinty Liberals will put 2,000 paper mill jobs at risk in Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and Iroquois Falls if they allow Abitibi-Bowater to sell off the power dam that generate low cost electricity for the mills.
In the Ontario Legislature today, Hampton asked the McGuinty Liberals to rule out Abitibi-Bowater scheme to sell off its power dams in Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario.
“The power dams general low cost electricity which helps to sustain the three paper mills and more than 2,000 jobs in Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and Iroquois Falls,” Hampton said. “If the McGuinty Liberals allow the sale of these power dams, the mills and the 2,000 good jobs will increasingly be at risk,” added Hampton.
Hampton pointed out that the biggest reason paper mills have closed in Northern Ontario is because of soaring industrial hydro bills that many paper mills could not afford to pay. Paper mills that have their own power dams, and generate low cost electricity are the only mills that have been able to continue operating.
MPP Gilles Bisson, Timmins-James Bay said that “selling off the power dams would increase paper production costs by $50 to $75 a tonne. It would mean the mills at Iroquois Falls, Thunder Bay and Fort Frances and the 2,000 jobs would be less sustainable.”
Hampton and Bisson will continue to press the McGuinty Liberals to do the right thing and stop any attempt by Abitibi-Bowater to sell the Northern Ontario power dams.