Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark is pushing against the Ontario Tree Seed Plant in Angus closure.
During a question period last week the issue was raised for a second time by Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson, whose riding houses the seed plant. According to Clark closing the plant would put the future of the Ferguson Forest Centre, along with 13 full time jobs and more than $1 million spent in the local economy annually, at risk.
CEO of the Ferguson Forest Centre Ed Patchell told Clark in a letter that closing the Angus Seed Plant would make it hard, if not impossible, for the forest centre to continue providing seed sourced forest seedlings to Eastern Ontario.
Clark says industry experts weren’t consulted and that it is time for the minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to put the closure on hold. He adds that the cost goes beyond lost jobs or economic activity, with the potential to lose important environmental initiatives present as well.