The Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill located on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has made an announcement to permanently shut down its operations. The closure was disclosed during a town hall meeting held for employees on August 20 at the Port Mellon site. Domtar, the company that possesses the mill, also revealed the closure of the Bayview Fibre chipping facility. Approximately 400 employees will be impacted by this decision.
Andrew Appleton, a tugboat captain at the mill with 22 years of service, expressed shock over the closure, stating that although they had considered such an outcome in the future, the suddenness of the decision took everyone by surprise. Employees were informed that their last working day would be on October 19, leading to a sense of uncertainty and concern among the workforce.
In 2015, a partial shutdown of operations at the mill affected up to 180 workers. Domtar’s president, Luc Thériault, cited challenges such as reduced demand from Asia, ongoing poor global pulp pricing, and a shortage of affordable domestic fibre as reasons for the closure. Thériault emphasized that the decision to idle the facilities was made after thorough evaluation and not a reflection on the employees’ efforts.
Appleton, contemplating his future job prospects, mentioned the potential transition to ferry services due to his marine license. He highlighted the diverse impact of the closure, noting instances of individuals recently relocating to the Sunshine Coast for mill employment. Domtar had previously announced the permanent closure of its Crofton mill in December, affecting around 350 employees.
The announcement received criticism from Unifor National president Lana Payne, who described it as evidence of a deepening crisis in the forestry sector, urging immediate intervention from both the British Columbia and federal governments. Payne expressed disappointment with the decision but reiterated the union’s commitment to collaborating with the company and authorities to explore solutions amidst the challenging industry landscape.
