A Northern Ontario paper mill's "indefinitely" shutting down.
Domtar says it's shutting down its Espanola pulp mill in early October, to be followed by the idling of the paper machines in November, with President Steve Henry saying "the Espanola mill has been challenged for some time now" with "years of ongoing operating losses and high costs associated with maintaining and operating" the mill, adding "we have worked diligently to find a viable path forward for the operation including offering it for sale" - though the company does promise "appropriate measures" to assist affected workers, and assures the mill idling will be be in an "environmentally sound" manner that will "facilitate a possible sale or future restart".
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha calls the news "heavy" and "devastating...for the workers, their families, and the community who will be impacted by this decision", adding he's "already been in contact with Ontario's Minister of Labour, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and have reached out to the Minister of Colleges and Universities to highlight the impacts that this will have on the community and our region", and he hopes to work with them - as well as their federal counterparts and other "impacted stakeholders" - to "mitigate any concerns in the community", emphasizing "protecting and promoting good paying, stable jobs in the North should be a priority for all elected officials".