A pulp mill on Vancouver Island is permanently ending operations, the latest mill to close in the province, affecting around 350 employees.
Domtar says in a statement that continued poor pricing for pulp and lack of access to affordable fibre in British Columbia necessitates the closure of its pulp mill in Crofton.
Domtar says it is exploring “a variety of possibilities” for the future of the site.
B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar calls the closure “gut-wrenching for workers” in a statement and says the forest sector is facing pressures from volatile markets, low pulp prices, shrinking fibre, climate-driven wildfires, conservation measures, and U.S. duties and tariffs.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Conservatives are calling for Parmar to resign, saying in a statement that the closure is a clear sign that B.C.’s coastal forest sector is collapsing.
Last month, West Fraser Timber announced that it would permanently close its lumber mill in 100 Mile House with about 165 jobs by the end of 2025.
