Resolute Celebrates Ground-Breaking MOA with Six First Nations - Memorandum of Agreement Has Resulted in $100M in New Aboriginal Business

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MONTRÉAL, Feb.10, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) and six First Nations Chiefs today held an official signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that sets out a framework for negotiating business agreements related to the company's sawmill investments in Northwestern Ontario.

In attendance at the signing, hosted by Resolute, were Chief Mainville of Couchiching First Nation, Chief Klyne of Seine River First Nation, Chief Windego of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, Chief Henderson of Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, Chief Jordan of Lac La Croix First Nation and Chief White Cloud of Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation, as well as the Honourable Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

"Already, this initiative has resulted in $100 million in new business for our six First Nations MOA partners," stated Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. "This agreement underscores the commitment of both Resolute and its operating communities to work together to create jobs and economic opportunity for Northwestern Ontarians." 

The agreement, originally signed in June 2013, has yielded contracts for: construction at Resolute's sawmills; transportation for hauling chips, biomass and lumber from the sawmills; yard services to manage loading and unloading of logs, lumber and by-products; and log harvesting and delivery.

"Speaking for all Chiefs here today, this agreement is ground-breaking and incredibly important to our First Nations," stated Chief Earl Klyne, Seine River First Nation. "It reflects a balanced approach to sustainability, not only supporting environmental goals, but the social and economic goals of the region as well."

Resolute has invested $90 million in Northwestern Ontario in the construction of a new sawmill in Atikokan, the upgrade and restart of the idled Ignace sawmill, the production capacity increase at the company's Thunder Bay sawmill, as well as the addition of a wood pellet plant at the Thunder Bay site. These investments are expected to create 200 new Resolute jobs and another 200 woodlands operations jobs, in addition to indirect employment.

"Resolute has been proactive in working with area First Nations communities and businesses to provide important economic opportunities," said the Honourable Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. "These relationships are beneficial for both Aboriginal communities and for Resolute in signaling an upturn for local forestry operations."

"Resolute has made significant investments in Northwestern Ontario at a time when there are growing signs of recovery in the forest products sector," said the Honourable Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North and Minister of Northern Development and Mines. "As the sawmills ramp up their activity, these operations will help encourage the future prosperity of our Aboriginal communities."

About Resolute Forest Products
Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including newsprint, specialty papers, market pulp and wood products. The company owns or operates some 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea, and power generation assets in Canada. Marketing its products in close to 80 countries, Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to at least one of three internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Resolute and other member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of balancing equally the three pillars of sustainability linked to human activities: environmental, social and economic.

Resolute is proud to be ranked by Corporate Knights as one of Canada's Best 50 Corporate Citizens for 2014. In addition, the company and Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer, have been named to Canada's Clean50. And in January 2015, Resolute was awarded The New Economy magazine's global Clean Tech Award for best forestry and paper solutions.

SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.

Investors: Rémi G. Lalonde, Vice President and Treasurer, 514 394-2345, [email protected]; Media and Others: Seth Kursman, Vice President, Corporate Communications,Sustainability and Government Affairs, 514 394-2398, [email protected]