April 15, 2008

Moved By:

Seconded By:

WHEREAS Canada’s manufacturing forestry sector is a critical part of the national economy: it is highly productive, generates the highest value-added in the economy compared to all other economic sectors, accounts for two-thirds of our nation’s total exports and funds three-quarters of all private sector research; and

WHEREAS Over the last five years Canada has suffered a quarter million manufacturing forestry job losses, across a diverse range of sectors including: auto assembly, auto parts, food and beverage, fish processing, shipbuilding, electronics, electrical, rubber, plastics, steel, wood, paper, metal and general manufacturing. These job losses are the result of permanent and indefinite layoffs of workers, bankruptcies and plant closures, workplace downsizing, work relocation and production off-shoring to countries both within North America (United States & Mexico) and internationally. The loss of manufacturing forestry jobs has devastated workers, families and communities from coast to coast, and restricts the amount of quality job prospects for our children and grandchildren. The loss of manufacturing forestry jobs has placed an added financial strain on municipal governments to deliver increased demands for social services at the local level, at the same time they are experiencing a shrinking tax base; and

WHEREAS The lack of federal government attention to the critical issues of unfair trade and markets closed to Canadian goods, the persistently high Canadian dollar, the deindustrialization of Canada’s economy and its associated impact, investment strategy, public procurement policies and inadequate protection for workers has resulted in a crisis for Canadian manufacturing forestry workers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Kirkland Lake, on behalf of the residents of Kirkland Lake, call on the federal government to take action in addressing the impact of manufacturing forestry job loss in Ontario and in other communities across Canada by:

· Identifying the manufacturing forestry industry as a strategic sector in Canada’s economic development;

· Undertaking a comprehensive review of the causes and consequences of manufacturing forestry job loss;

· Establishing a sectoral task force to review ways Canada can strengthen the manufacturing forestry sector;

· Adopting a comprehensive and integrated set of economic, fiscal and monetary policies – a framework for fair trade that will both strengthen domestic manufacturing forestry and protect manufacturing forestry jobs, including “A Made in Canada” government procurement policies at all levels of government.

· Ensuring that all Canadian workers are protected in job loss through the improvement of bankruptcy laws, wage protection, pension protection, transition programs, improved training and relocation programs, and enhanced Employment Insurance benefits.