About 200 people rallied outside the building while the CEP activists
occupied the MNR offices in a complex known as "little Queen's Park" in
Thunder Bay.

CEP Ontario VP Cecil Makowski has been in contact with Ontario's chief
negotiator in the softwood talks who has indicated that he will send a
letter to the protesters this afternoon.

"We have told the government that they should give us some comfort that
there will be a public process before any changes are made to Ontario
forest policies, and we are waiting now for his communication," Makowski
reported at 3:00 pm EST.

Companion rallies were held in Sault St. Marie and in Kapuskasing where
200 people marched in bitterly cold weather with the support of high
school students who closed their school to attend the rally.

For information:

Fred Wilson 613 266-3044

Cecil Makowski 905 371-6297