It's more than just the collapse of the northern forest industry.

• Author: Wray, Chris
• Position: Industry overview - Column

It has been used as the catalyst to grow the mighty economy of southern Ontario. It has contributed to the vast success of our largest cities and corporations and has been a significant part of the growth of our country. It has been mismanaged and it is now on the verge of disappearing altogether--it is the socio-economic fabric of small town Northern Ontario.

The total collapse of the forest industry in Northern Ontario is only the latest symptom of an apparent "terminal illness" that may result in the disappearance of an entire culture and way of life. As a reader, you may not totally agree with the assertion of a disappearing culture, but no doubt you recognize the culture and economy of small town Northern Ontario is undergoing a metamorphosis.

While organizations such as the Northeastern Superior Mayors Group and the Northern Ontario Municipal Association attempt to plan for the future through wholesale generational changes, individual communities such as White River, Chapleau, Nipigon, Ignace, Dubreuilville, Pickle Lake, Smooth Rock Falls, Wawa etc. struggle for their very existence. As an example, during a recent meeting of the Northeastern Superior Mayors Group, participants listened intently as White River Mayor Angelo Bazzoni explained the immediate results of the announcement by Domtar to permanently cease its White River operations. Residents, some of them long term, have already permanently left the community for the "friendlier" employment opportunities offered in places such as Sault Ste Marie, Thunder Bay, the GTA and of course Alberta.

With no economy, why should they stay? This all leaves it even more difficult for the remaining employers (many of them service establishments) to find and retain employees for even the simplest of functions. More importantly, the township itself will no doubt see a rise in tax arrears for assessment that may no longer have any value; it will certainly not have the funds needed to maintain its infrastructure, including a brand new water treatment plant. A predicted population drop of 75% to 250 residents is being anticipated thereby affecting the entire region.

Answering the question of just what went wrong in White River or any other small community undergoing a similar fate, is no easy task and goes well beyond the scope and expertise of this column. Let us however, review a couple of matters that perhaps may illustrate the type of "double standard" assistance that is available to small...