The Ontario government says it’s working on a plan to help protect the forestry industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry John Yakabuski has launched virtual consultations with leaders from the forestry sector to discuss their interests and concerns.
Yakabuski says ideas from the talks will be reported into the government’s new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.
He notes that group will take in the feedback to identify how best to protect and support people and jobs, restart the economy and move towards the recovery across Ontario..
Yakabuski says the industry is critical to the provincial economy, generating over $18-billion in revenue and supporting about 155,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Meantime, the province is investing $3.5-million to help protect tree planters this season.
Minister Yakabuski says they are safeguarding the workers who regenerate our forests and the communities where they work during the pandemic.
The money will be used for larger camps and additional kitchens to provide more space, as well as extra personal protective equipment, plastic partitions for transporting workers and more wash stations.
Yakabuski says this will help expand facilities and modify operations to ensure those who plant trees can work in a safe environment.
He adds with these measures, the government is also securing the planting of 70 million trees this year in Ontario’s forests.
