Frank de Jong, leader of the Green Party of Ontario, will visit Sault Ste. Marie today.
He'll be at the bus terminal from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Cesira's for an open dinner afterwards, and at the Clean North office at 7:30 to meet anyone interested in meeting the leader and finding out more about Green Party policies and ideas.
The following was issued this morning by the Green Party:
******************* Spare the forest industry, cut personal income taxes
Green Party forestry plan would create jobs, help diversify northern economy
SAULT STE. MARIE — Frank de Jong, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, today said the Green Party's plan to shift taxes from personal incomes and company profits and onto resources will help create value-added employment in the forestry sector while making the industry more sustainable.
"Northern Ontario needs less interference by politicians in Toronto and more local control over the industry," said de Jong.
"Instead of taxing the people who work in the forest industry or who make a profit from it, the Green Party would cut taxes and raise stumpage fees and area charges," said de Jong. "This would provide companies with the financial incentive they need to diversify — and wring every possible dollar from every stick of wood."
Of Ontario's 84 million hectares of forested land, 53 million hectares is considered "productive" forest.
The Ontario government sells Sustainable Forest Licenses annually to companies, allowing them to extract the Ontario Allowable Cut of 55.9 million cubic meters of wood from a Maximum Allowable Depletion area of 269,409 ha, or 207 cubic meters/ha.
To encourage reduced fiber extraction from Ontario forests, the Green Party of Ontario would gradually raise stumpage fees and area charges.
To help make paper and wood recycling more attractive — and promote a more sustainable forest industry — it would remove consumption taxes off of recycled fibre and paper.
"Why are we northern Ontarians hankering after IKEA pine furniture? That's economic insanity," said Sault Green Party President Kathie Brosemer.
"Shifting taxes will make it more profitable to employ more people — which in turn will allow sawmills to diversify and become producers of windows and doors, tables and chairs."
"The Green Party stands for strong communities, local decision-making and long-term solutions. We’re regular folks who just want to make a difference for our families and the future of Ontario," said de Jong.
"We'll work hard to protect people’s long-term interests and preserve the environment that sustains our lives and our economy. We’re a party with great ideas and strong values — and we’re ready to serve northern Ontarians at Queen’s Park."
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