August 11, 2015 – United against Greenpeace misinformation
Articles below detail how the Federal Government and communities in Ontario and Quebec are banding together to address Greenpeace misinformation.
“We decided as communities, industry stakeholders, and First Nations to talk about what the current issues are that affect us in Northern Ontario where we are under attack by environmental groups. We feel strongly that it is a campaign of misinformation about how we conduct forestry in Northern Ontario. We know we adhere to the highest Canadian and provincial standards.”
– Al Spacek, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities
“We have supported the forest industry for a long time. Three ministries needed to work together to develop these measures to show our intention to defend the industry. Greenpeace will not destroy the economy of my region! We will use facts to stop this smear campaign.”
– Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs
“Our Conservative government will not stand by while Canada’s forest industry is being attacked.”
– Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs
July 31, 2015 – Government of Canada renews commitment to dispel forestry myths
Resolute received a letter from the Honorable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, and the Honorable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec, discussing Canada’s global leadership in sustainable forest management. In the letter, the Government of Canada further commits to countering marketplace myths spread by activists’ misinformation, and recognizes Resolute’s leadership.
“Thanks to the leadership Resolute and other major forest product companies have taken in sustainable forest management, Canada has 161 million hectares of forest land that is independently certified as sustainably managed. That’s 43% of the world’s certified forests – more than any other country in the world. This makes Canada the global leader as a trusted source of forest products originating from sustaibly managed forests.”
– Greg Rickford, Minister for the Federal Economic Development initiative for Northern Ontario
– Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs
July 25, 2015 – “Business under an attack: Lessons from Resolute Forest Products”
In her recent blog post, “Business under an attack: Lessons from Resolute Forest Products”, Dr. Jaana Woiceshyn, a professor of business ethics and competitive strategy at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business offers an argument in support of businesses standing up against “bullying” from ENGO activist attacks. In particular, she writes about our CEO, Richard Garneau, and his response to recent attacks by ForestEthics.
“Resolute Forest Products has been harassed by the American radical environmental group ForestEthics for years. The ENGO (environmental non-governmental organization) has been using threats, intimidation, false accusations, and harassing Resolute’s customers, to disrupt the company’s operations.”
– Dr. Jaana Woiceshyn, professor of business ethics and competitive strategy at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business
July 22, 2015 – Financial Post: At last, a Canadian corporate hero.
An exchange of letters between Resolute and ForestEthics resulted in a powerful column by Peter Foster of the National Post applauding Resolute’s resolve and principled position.
“Rarely if ever has a corporate executive dared to call an ENGO shakedown what it is. Richard Garneau is thus almost unique among executives. In a corporate world dripping with bogus “business ethics,” Garneau, a quiet and modest man who lives the Boreal, has demonstrated some true moral backbone, refusing to bow to what he sees as lies and intimidation.”
– Peter Foster, Financial Post
July 3, 2015 – Unions, workers, communities, political leaders and First Nations
Over the last several months, unions, workers, communities, political leaders, First Nations and others have come together to publicly defend Canada’s world leading forestry practices and overall leadership on sustainability matters. They are demanding sustainable outcomes, ones that truly balance environmental, social and economic considerations.
“Your allegations about forestry practices do not reflect at all the reality of our on-the-ground forestry practices and sustainability leadership here in Canada. All forestry companies in Canada, including Quebec and Ontario, must operate under strict provincial rules and regulations. They require complete regeneration after harvest and the required practices maintain the long-term health of the forest. This is the law and we are proud of it, and proud to hold our Employers to these requirements.”
– Bob Matters, Chair of United Steelworkers
- Read the municipal resolutions condemning activist misinformation campaigns
June 10, 2015 – Mayors from 22 communities in Ontario and Quebec meet in Ottawa to address misinformation spread by activists
Joining forces against ‘eco-terrorism’
On Wednesday, May 27th, close to 30 mayors and other elected officials from communities across Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec held a press conference in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, to highlight the inaccurate and deceptive anti-forestry campaign being waged by Greenpeace and other like-minded activists.
Because it is so important, we’re posting links to several news stories and press releases in French and English to give you the full picture of what happened.
- Read The Daily Press (Timmins) article
- Read the press release from Minister Rickford and Minister Lebel highlighting unprecedented support for Canada’s forest sector
- Read the statement from the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM), the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), the Ontario Forest Industry Association (OFIA) and the Quebec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) reiterating the important role of government in educating the world about the sustainable practices followed by Canada’s innovative, wealth-creating forest industry.
- Read the article from Radio-Canada (translated from the original French)
