The curtailment at the Paper Excellence Catalyst Crofton pulp and paper mill has been extended into a third month.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e saddened to have to announce that weB次元官网网址檙e having to extend the Crofton curtailment till the end of September,B次元官网网址� said Graham Kissack, vice-president of environment, health, safety and communications for Paper Excellence Canada. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 for all operations B次元官网网址� the kraft mill as well as the paper mill.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e watching the market very closely. Global prices for pulp and paper, they are absolutely in the tank.B次元官网网址�

Kissack said employees were notified on Monday that they would not be returning to work at the end of August.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough on everybody, especially some of our employees who are now without work,B次元官网网址� he conceded. B次元官网网址淲e appreciate all the good efforts they make. This decision to remain curtailed is not a reflection of their hard work.B次元官网网址�

Nearly 400 employees from the Public and Private Workers of Canada Local 2 plus around 60 from Unifor Local 1132 are affected.

Kissack said a significant weakness in the market in China is having the biggest impact.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping the market has reached the bottom and will start to recover,B次元官网网址� he added.

The plan now is to start up the mill at the end of September, but B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 contingent upon the recovery of the market prices,B次元官网网址� noted Kissack.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 operate and lose money day in and day out.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very disappointing,B次元官网网址� said Geoff Dawe, president of PPWC Local 2, of the extended curtailment. B次元官网网址淲ith the 400 members we have, thatB次元官网网址檚 400 families. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a community thatB次元官网网址檚 not getting very much information from the company. WeB次元官网网址檙e getting three daysB次元官网网址� notice that weB次元官网网址檙e going to be down.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e waiting around to see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on. ThereB次元官网网址檚 been no meaningful conversations as to why with the unions.

B次元官网网址淲e were told it was going to be one month. Now, weB次元官网网址檙e into three months. Each time weB次元官网网址檝e had days notice and no real conversation with the company at the time leading up to it for the members to prepare a path forward for the next little bit. People want to be able to plan. How fair is it for a member to go out and get another job? I do know people have quit. How can you blame them?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淯nifor is very concerned with the third curtailment extension in as many months by Paper Excellence,B次元官网网址� Tanner McQuarrie, Unifor Local 1132 president, added in a statement. B次元官网网址淓arlier in the year there was a 50 million dollar commitment between Paper Excellence and both the Federal and Provincial Governments. This is extremely difficult for our members and their families. When the investment was made in January, members that had been considering relocating or finding other jobs changed their minds and believed they would be able to remain at the Crofton mill.

B次元官网网址淲e need a solid commitment from Paper Excellence to work with the union and invest in the Crofton mill providing good paying jobs for our members and the community for the foreseeable future. We have a young committed workforce that believes in forestry in this province. We are hopeful that the proper decisions will be made as Crofton has the infrastructure and potential to be a successful plant for decades to come.B次元官网网址�

Dawe said the supervisory staff of about 135 has continued to work during the curtailments.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 frustrated with the process and whatB次元官网网址檚 going on right now. They seem to have a plan. I donB次元官网网址檛 know if weB次元官网网址檙e included in that or not. I have no official word from the company of what they are or are not doing.B次元官网网址�

Dawe wonders why other similar operations are running if thereB次元官网网址檚 an economical issue with fibre.

Paper Excellence originally announced in May it would temporarily curtail the Crofton facility from June 30 until July 31. A second month-long curtailment was announced lasting until the end of August and now the best-case scenario for restarting the mill is Sept. 30.

In January, the federal government contributed $14.3 million and the province $4.5M for a combined $18.8M along with a Paper Excellence investment of $50M to restart paper operations at Crofton. That partnership allowed for the return of 100 jobs to the Crofton Catalyst pulp mill.

The mill announced it was retooling to manufacture new pulp products that reduce the need for single-use plastics.

With the nearly $20M boost, B次元官网网址渨hereB次元官网网址檚 the accountability on that?B次元官网网址� questioned Dawe.

The union has been in contact with Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey and Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley, who were at the press conference at the mill in January when the funding was announced, to bring them up-to-date on the situation at Crofton.