The provincial government is being asked to increase funding for forest access roads in the region.
Erik Holmstrom is the manager for Ontario Timberlands for Weyerhaeuser and says the amount of money dedicated to forest access roads has actually decreased.
“Initially the funding for public access infrastructure was $75 million,” Holmstrom told the Ontario Finance Committee during their hearings in Kenora this week.
“The current government has reduced this funding to $54 million. Inflationary pressure alone would require increasing the program to $100 million.”
Holmstrom says the forest access roads aren’t just for lumber companies, but different recreation activities.
“Most of the roads in the Kenora Forest and Whiskey Jack Forests are used by forest industry, the mining industry, first nation communities, hunters, trappers, fishermen, recreationalists, and tourist operators. This program is not a subsidy but an investment in our northern infrastructure.”
Tom Ratz, a forester from Resolute also says some first nations, like Slate Falls, even rely on forest access roads to get into their communities.
