[news] Fw: CEP Protesters occupy Ontario government offices

[Gordon Flett]

----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Hart
To: Gene McGuckinSent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 7:06 AMSubject: CEP
Protesters occupy Ontario government offices
              Protesters occupy Ontario government offices


For immediate
release
April 2, 2003

Thunder Bay -- A dozen forest workers, members of the Communications,
Energy and Paperworkers Union, are chained to a pillar in the middle of
the Ontario government's Ministry of Natural Resources offices in
Thunder Bay to protest the sell out of Canadian forest policies in
softwood lumber negotiations in Washington.


The protesters are demanding public hearings in Ontario before any
agreement is reached that would involve changing forest policies that
tie the right to harvest public forests with obligations to operate
mills and maintain employment.


About 200 people rallied outside the building while the CEP activists
occupied the MNR offices in a complex known as "little Queen's Park" in
Thunder Bay.


CEP Ontario VP Cecil Makowski has been in contact with Ontario's chief
negotiator in the softwood talks who has indicated that he will send a
letter to the protesters this afternoon.


"We have told the government that they should give us some comfort that
there will be a public process before any changes are made to Ontario
forest policies, and we are waiting now for his communication," Makowski
reported at 3:00 pm EST.


Companion rallies were held in Sault St. Marie and in Kapuskasing where
200 people marched in bitterly cold weather with the support of high
school students who closed their school to attend the rally.


For information:

Fred Wilson 613 266-3044
Cecil Makowski 905 371-6297