The Kenora Forest Products Mill is one step closer to full production as Unifor says the first shift in the new planer mill started Monday.

Local National representative Stephen Boon says there are now almost 70 unionized members working at the mill and that number will grow to about 110 over the summer with another sawmill and planer shift.

Boon notes over 50% of the mill’s current workforce is now comprised of local Metis and First Nations members.

He adds Kenora Forest Products will become one of the highest paying sawmills in Eastern Canada with toptrades’ wages increasing by nearly 59% to roughly $42 per hour by the final year of the current six year contract.

Lumber production at the revamped facility started in February.

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