Domtar has declared the indefinite halt of operations at the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. The announcement was made at a town hall meeting for employees on August 20 at the Port Mellon site. The company also stated that operations at the Bayview Fibre chipping facility will be idled alongside the mill, impacting about 400 employees.
Andrew Appleton, a tugboat captain with 22 years of service at the mill, expressed his surprise and disbelief at the news, mentioning that the closure was sooner than anticipated. Employees were informed that their last day of work would be on October 19, leading to a somber atmosphere at the mill as everyone contemplates their next steps.
In 2015, a portion of the mill’s operations was shut down, affecting up to 180 workers. Domtar’s president, Luc Thériault, attributed the decision to the mill’s closure to challenges such as reduced demand from Asia, global pulp pricing pressures, and a decline in domestic fibre availability. Thériault emphasized that the idling was a necessary business measure based on market conditions, not a reflection on the employees’ efforts.
Appleton, uncertain about his future job prospects, highlighted the impact on both long-standing and newly hired employees. The closure’s ripple effect extends to local businesses closely tied to the mill, posing concerns about their operational continuity.
In response to the situation, Unifor National president Lana Payne called for immediate action from the government to address the deepening crisis in the forestry sector. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar acknowledged the challenges faced by the pulp sector due to global market shifts, expressing readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to provide necessary support to the affected community.
The closure of the Howe Sound mill adds to the ongoing challenges in the forestry industry, signaling the need for proactive measures to mitigate economic repercussions and support affected workers and businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
