A statement from North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas regarding the announcement to indefinitely curtail paper operations at the Crofton Mill
Yesterday, Paper Excellence announced that it is indefinitely curtailing the paper operations of the Crofton mill, leaving 75 workers out of a job. This is devastating news for these workers and their families, who were already facing months of uncertainty about their future employment at the site. Many have deep roots in the community, and understandably are not keen to uproot their families and move elsewhere for work.
At this time last year, many of us stood together at the Crofton mill to hear about the announcement of $18.8 million in federal and provincial funding to retool one of the paper machines to manufacture new products to reduce the use of single-use plastics, saving 100 jobs and building a strong foundation for the site. We were all excited about what that investment meant for the long-term future of the pulp and paper operations at the Crofton mill.
In recent weeks, North Cowichan has been in regular contact with the Minister of Forests regarding the current challenges with the Crofton mill and opportunities for enhanced provincial supports that could improve the site’s productivity and sustainability, including maintaining the Coast Fibre Recovery Zone, committing long-term funding to the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., supporting the sawmill sector, promoting of commercial thinning practices, and enhancing support for the Wildfire Risk Reduction Program.
We have been in contact with Unifor Local 1132, which represents the unionized employees on the paper side of the mill, and offered our support in helping these workers find new employment in the Cowichan region. We are currently working with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation to activate a Community Transition table that will bring various government agencies together to help these workers transition to new jobs or receive skills training. We hope to hold our first meeting at Municipal Hall in the coming days.
The Crofton Mill is a longstanding employer in North Cowichan, and a significant contributor to the local economy, providing $4.5 million annually in property taxes. While Paper Excellence will continue operating the pulp side of the mill, we remain concerned about the volatility of this industry. We will continue to advocate for the necessary supports to keep the mill operating while supporting efforts to secure employment for the workers impacted by this week’s announcement.
Rob Douglas, Mayor, Municipality of North Cowichan