Rob Keen

There’s a staffing crisis in the forest industry. That was the gist of a presentation to Renfrew County Council by the CEO of Forests Ontario, Rob Keen. Keen says they need to encourage youth and high school students to learn more about the forest industry, so even if they don’t end up working in that field, they see the benefits it provides. He adds seven per cent of the population, or 6,900 people in Renfrew County are employed by the industry. Keen told county council there’s a staffing crisis in the forest industry and with the cancellation of the 50 Million Trees program, nurseries won’t be planting and stocking trees for 4-years down the road.