Vancouver Island paper mill to close indefinitely, at least 150 jobs affected
CTV
B.C.-based company Paper Excellence says it is indefinitely ceasing its paper operations at one of its Vancouver Island facilities in two months. In an announcement Thursday, the company said its Catalyst Crofton facility, south of Nanaimo, B.C., will stop producing paper in early December, a move that's expected to affect at least 150 workers.
In an announcement Thursday, the company said its Catalyst Crofton facility, south of Nanaimo, B.C., will stop producing paper in early December, a move that's expected to affect at least 150 workers.
"Paper markets in China served by the mill have significantly weakened while there have been substantial cost escalations for chemicals, energy and wood fibre used at Crofton," said the company in a statement.
Paper Excellence says the 'indefinite curtailment' will affect about 80 Unifor employees and 70 Public and Private Workers of Canada union workers at the mill.
Pulp operations at the mill are expected to continue, according to Paper Excellence.
"We recognize the hardship this will have on both our employees and the Cowichan Valley," said the company.
"We hope to minimize these impacts through union discussions that will consider secondments, utilization of earned time off and employment insurance."
This is the second Paper Excellence mill to indefinitely cease operations in B.C. within the last year.
In December, the company shut down its Catalyst Paper tiskwat mill in Powell River, B.C.
