Local Unions and NDP Seek Action Over Sawmill Closures

Unions representing mill workers in northwestern Ontario are urging both provincial and federal governments for help as uncertainty grows in the forestry industry.

On Wednesday, leaders from Unifor, the United Steelworkers, and Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP) sent a joint letter to the two governments, asking them to “take immediate action to prevent the closure of the Ignace sawmill and reopen the Ear Falls sawmill and Terrace Bay pulp mill.”

The Ignace sawmill, owned by Domtar, is now facing an upcoming shutdown. The facility is set to start idling in March, which will affect between 19 and 25 workers, according to local officials.

In addition, Interfor’s sawmill in Ear Falls has been closed since October, while AV Group’s pulp mill in Terrace Bay has been idling since January 2024.

Also on Thursday, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper announced it would stop its newsprint mill operations due to reduced demand, impacting 150 employees.

“Forestry is not just an industry in northern Ontario – it is a way of life. It sustains families, supports local economies, and provides the wood products essential to building Canadian homes,” says Wednesday’s joint letter.

“The indefinite closure of the Ignace, Ear Falls and Terrace Bay mills threatens not only the livelihoods of its workers but the future of sustainable forestry in our region.”

The Terrace Bay pulp mill has been shut down since January 2024, prompting concerns about how cold weather has affected the facility. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

The letter is signed by Jacques Jean of United Steelworkers Local 1-2010, Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin, Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois and Unifor’s regional director Samia Hashi.

This letter requests that governments develop an industrial forestry strategy aimed at protecting jobs, addressing economic threats like tariffs, and modernizing the sector further.

Additionally, it calls for mill workers to “receive an equity stake in the operation.”

“For decades, forestry workers have carried this industry through cycles of boom and bust often enduring wage cuts and uncertainty. They deserve more than a paycheque; they deserve a stake in the future they help build,” it states.

The letter includes a petition signed by over 250 individuals and asks for a response by Feb. 13.

Response from Provincial and Federal Governments

The office of Kevin Holland, Ontario’s associate minister of forestry and forest products as well as MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan provided an emailed statement on Wednesday stating that “we are actively working with local leaders and industry partners to support workers and communities through this period.”

“Our government is already supporting affected workers [to] ensure they have access to the resources they need,” it notes.

“Ontario’s Ministry of Labour , Immigration , Training , and Skills Development has been communicating with both companiesand will initiate Rapid Re-employmentand Training Services includingthe optionof establishinga POWER(Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response)Centre alongwith otheravailable supportsas required,” saidthe statement referringto themills ownedby Interforand Domtar.
WATCH | What happens toa small town whenthe last mill closes:

What happens toa small town whenthe last millcloses

As theeconomy changes thereis growingconcernthat smalltowns across Canadaarein crisis astheylose industriesand jobs, andfamiliesareforced tomove away.

Theprovincehas spentmorethan $150 millionto supportthesectoritcontinues, and advocatingfor “its fairshare” offederal funding “to help Canada’sforestry sectorrespondtothese pressures.”

Atfederal level receivedan emailedresponseon Fridayfromaspokespersonfor Employmentand Social Development Canada, Mila Roy.

Roy says departmentheldjointinformation sessionsatthe endof Octoberforemployeesatthe Ear Falls Sawmill where they”wereprovided withinformationonhowto complete Employment Insuranceapplications.”

“Ameetingiscurrentlybeingorganizedwiththe Ignace Sawmilland Service Canada representatives todetermine themosteffectiveapproachtosupportaffectedemployees,”said Roy.”Employmentand Social Development Canadawillcontinuetomonitorandprovidesupportasneededfortheimpactedcommunities.”

Pursuant measures announcedlast yearto supportthoseaffectedbyongoingchallengeswithin Canadian softwood lumberindustryincluding career services skills trainingandre-employment supportnewemployment insurancemeasures.

Source link