Logging roads in the Rainy River district were reopened in early July following a three-day storm in June that brought bush operations to a standstill.
Some independent logging contractors, facing accumulating expenses, huddled with NDP leader Howard Hampton last month hoping to convince the province to change the eligibility rules of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program to permit their revenue losses to be covered.
Under the program, the government does not reimburse for revenue losses nor for wage losses for small business owners like independent loggers.
The storm, which dumped more than 400 millimetres of rain on the district, shut down logging operations and wood-chip delivery to Abitibi-Consolidated's Fort Frances mill, along area highways.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs announced early last month that the province would provide an advance of up to $2,500 in disaster funding to residents, small businesses and farmers for emergency repairs and cleanup.
The municipalities of Machin, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Ignace and the entire Rainy River district were designated as areas eligible for disaster funding assistance.
Under the relief program municipalities are eligible for up to 100 per cent of the cost of replacing and repairing infrastructure, such as roads and culverts damaged in the storm.
Property owners are eligible up to 90 per cent of the costs - not covered by insurance - to replace or repair property damaged or destroyed in the storm. Storm damage was estimated at $31 million, including $16 million to small businesses.
Ontario Disaster Relief information and forms can be downloaded off the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Web site at www.mah.gov.on.ca
