Resolute signs MoA with six First Nations

Resolute Forest Products, an owner and operator of 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities, and power generation facilities, and six First Nations chiefs have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) that sets out a framework for negotiating business agreements related to the company's sawmill investments in north western Ontario.

In attendance at the signing, hosted by Resolute, were Chief Mainville of Couchiching First Nation, Chief Klyne of Seine River First Nation, Chief Windego of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, Chief Henderson of Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, Chief Jordan of Lac La Croix First Nation and Chief White Cloud of Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation, as well as Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

'Already, this initiative has resulted in $100 million (€87.5 million) in new business for our six First Nations MoA partners,' says Richard Garneau, president and CEO.

The agreement, originally signed in June 2013, has yielded contracts for: construction at Resolute's sawmills; transportation for hauling chips, biomass and lumber from the sawmills; yard services to manage loading and unloading of logs, lumber and by-products; and log harvesting and delivery.

Resolute has invested $90 million in north western Ontario in the construction of a new sawmill in Atikokan, the upgrade and restart of the idled Ignace sawmill, the production capacity increase at the company's Thunder Bay sawmill, as well as the addition of a wood pellet plant at the Thunder Bay site.