The Province of Ontario Steps Up Funding to Help Unemployed Kenora Forest Products Workers

The Kenora Forest Products Ltd., mill in Kenora Ontario remains idle, shuttered by its parent company in September 2019. This just before the parent company, Prendiville Industries Ltd., filed for bankruptcy in December 2019. While some of the 100+ workers who had lost their jobs have found employment at another location, many remain unemployed. To help with their employment search, the Kenora Forest Products Action Centre opened its doors on Thursday September 3rd. The centre will connect unionized and non-unionized forestry workers with local job and training opportunities as well as counselling services to help people re-join the workforce. The funding agreement for the action centre runs until May 2021 and will be run by a labor adjustment committee, chaired by Kenora city councilor Andrew Poirier. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said, “I’ve got mixed feelings. I love what we’re trying to do here with a Kenora Forest Product Action Centre but I obviously prefer if that mill was in full operation.”