Northern Ontario

RHTLF Update -Legal Fees Case

Two Sagamok Anishnaabe Elders testified on Monday, September 29, 2025, in a Toronto courtroom that a fee arrangement with lawyers who won a landmark treaty case must be honoured in keeping with Anishinaabe law and traditional honour. Elder Margaret Toulouse and Elder Nelson Toulouse said the fee agreement was well understood by the First Nations litigants throughout the court battle ...

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Ontario Forest Sector Faces Crisis Amid New Section 232 Tariffs and Escalating Trade War

Today (September 30, 2025), business, union, and community leaders from across Ontario voiced alarm in response to the latest escalation of the U.S.–Canada trade war. Yesterday, President Trump made the egregious proclamation that Canadian forest products represent a threat to U.S. national security, mystifying those impacted. This decision, made under Section 232 of the Tariff Act, places an additional 10% ...

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Letter – Guy Bourgouin Writes Premier Ford about Kap Paper Mill

September 29, 2025 The Honorable Doug Ford Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Dear Premier Ford, I am writing to you in strong support of the concerns raised by the municipalities, unions, employers, and residents regarding the potential closure of the Kap Paper Mill. The possible shutdown of this facility would be devastating for Kapuskasing ...

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NOMA Urges Immediate Action to Keep Kap Paper Operating

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) is calling on both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to take immediate, coordinated action following the announcement that Kap Paper will begin an orderly idling of operations at its Kapuskasing facility. The decision to wind down operations, despite years of engagement with governments and partners, reflects the absence of near-term ...

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FONOM Urges Immediate Action to Keep Kap Paper Operating

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is calling on both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to take immediate, coordinated action following Kap Paper’s announcement that it will begin an orderly idling of operations at its Kapuskasing facility. The decision to idle the mill, despite years of engagement with governments and partners, reflects the absence of ...

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Statement on the Idling of the Kapuskasing Paper Mill

Today, Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources, and Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, issued the following statement: “Our government has worked closely with Kap Paper to help protect jobs at the Kapuskasing Paper Mill, providing more than $50 million to help cover operating expenses and provide business supports to help the company establish a viable, long-term ...

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Unifor demands federal funding to save Kap Paper mill jobs

Unifor is urging the federal government to provide funding and support to Kap Paper in Kapuskasing, Ont. to prevent a permanent curtailment that will lead to widespread job loss across Northeastern Ontario. “The Kap Paper mill has received provincial support in recent years and had expected similar strategic funding from the federal government but nothing has materialized in time to ...

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Kap Paper Announces the Idling of Kapuskasing Mill

With deep regret, Kap Paper today announced it will begin an orderly idling of operations at its Kapuskasing facility. The decision follows months—and indeed years—of engagement with governments and partners and reflects the absence of near-term measures required to maintain the integrated forestry supply chain in Northeastern Ontario. “This is a heartbreaking day for our people and the community,” said ...

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Northern Policy Institute welcomes its first Vice President

Northern Policy Institute is pleased to announce that Paula Haapanen has joined the Institute as Vice President. Paula joins the Institute after 6 years with Impact ON, most recently as Senior Director of Engagement. Fluently trilingual (French, English, and Finnish), Haapanen was responsible for communications, government relations, and partnership development at Impact ON. She will continue with similar responsibilities at ...

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Institut des politiques du Nord accueille sa première vice-présidente

Institut des politiques du Nord (IPN)est heureux d’annoncer que Paula Haapanen a rejoint l’Institut en tant que vice-présidente. Paula rejoint l’Institut après avoir passé six ans chez Impact ON, où elle occupait récemment le poste de directrice principale du Pôle Engagement. Parlant couramment trois langues (français, anglais et finnois), Mme Haapanen était responsable des communications, des relations gouvernementales et du ...

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Joint NOMA–FONOM Media Release: Ontario’s Forestry Investments

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) fully support today’s announcement by the Government of Ontario regarding investments in forest road infrastructure and the sawmill chip program. This commitment is an important step towards protecting a sector facing unprecedented challenges, including 35% softwood lumber duties, potential Section 232 tariffs, and the ongoing pressures ...

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L’Ontario investit 30 millions de dollars supplémentaires pour protéger les travailleurs forestiers

trillium

Le gouvernement de l’Ontario investit 30 millions de dollars supplémentaires pour soutenir les entreprises, les travailleurs et les collectivités qui dépendent du secteur forestier de la province. Ce financement permettra de construire et d’entretenir davantage de chemins d’accès forestiers et d’apporter un soutien immédiat aux scieries de l’Ontario afin qu’elles trouvent de nouveaux marchés pour leurs copeaux de bois. Dans ...

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Ontario Investing An Additional $30 Million to Protect Forestry Workers

trillium

The Ontario government is investing a further $30 million to support businesses, workers and communities dependent on the province’s forest sector. This funding will build and maintain more forestry access roads and provide immediate support for Ontario sawmills to find new markets for their woodchips. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, these investments will strengthen Ontario’s forestry ...

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Kap Paper Makes Urgent Call to Ottawa to Match Provincial Support and Protect 2500 Jobs in Northeastern Ontario

Kap Paper reiterates its request for immediate federal action to stabilize Canada’s forestry supply chain-the backbone of the federal housing plan. The company urges the Government of Canada to work with Ontario and industry on practical, near-term steps to keep the integrated system of pulp and paper mills, by-product markets, and sawmills intact, while protecting 2,500 jobs in Northeastern Ontario. ...

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