Pictou County braces for Northern Pulp closure

ABERCROMBIE, N.S. — Northern Pulp will close on or before Jan. 31, 2020.

The news that has dominated provincial headlines hit hardest in Pictou County — home of the mill and the infamous history that comes with it.

“It’s a pretty dark day before Christmas,” said Pictou County Chamber of Commerce chairman Blair Van Veld, after hearing Premier Stephen McNeil’s announcement on Dec. 20 that the Boat Harbour Act will not be extended to allow Northern Pulp to continue operating.

Northern Pulp confirmed shortly after the announcement that it will begin to deliver layoff and contract cancellation notices and will start implementing plans to close Northern Pulp.

“It’s going to be a major economic blow for the county and Nova Scotia as a whole,” Van Veld said. “It’s certainly not just the mill workers that are going to be impacted and, from the chamber, our thoughts are definitely with everyone in the forestry industry and the 300 people that worked at the mill.”

While he said he’s glad to hear the province has created a $50-million transition fund, he doesn’t believe it’s enough.

“That’s just a drop in the bucket,” he said, adding Northern Pulp generated $300 million annually in economic activity in the province.

Van Veld said the chamber will try to work with the province and local people as much as possible.

Debbie Sangster, owner of Deb’s Hidden Café in Scotsburn, said the news that the mill is closing is devastating. Her business is located near Scotsburn Lumber Ltd., which is owned by Northern Pulp and supplies chips to it. Much of her business depends on the employees of the saw mill and the truckers who go in and out of it.

“What I’m hearing is mixed feelings,” she said.

While some are disappointed the pulp mill is closing, others agree with McNeil that Paper Excellence, which owns Northern Pulp, had five years to find a solution, and didn’t.

Some people dining at the cafe told Sangster they hope another company, such as Irving, will step in and buy the business.

She hasn’t heard anything directly about whether or not Scotsburn Lumber Ltd., will close, but knows she’ll feel the effect financially if it does. She says she will stay open as long as she’s able, though.

“I’m going to keep on trucking and see what happens.”

She said a marijuana plant is nearby Durham is rumoured to be opening soon.

“That’s supposed to hire 150 people. Maybe some people can go there.”

Progress Conservative leader and Pictou East MLA Tim Houston said he was “totally gutted” by the announcement.

“This is a devastating day for thousands of Nova Scotian families, people who work in the woods, run porters, operate saw mills, deliver fuel, work at Northern Pulp,” he said. “No one wants to see their friends, neighbours, and fellow Nova Scotians lose their jobs.”

In Pictou, Mayor Jim Ryan said he certainly feels for the people who will be out of work.

“There’s no doubt that there’s going to be negative effects.”

But he said he believes McNeil made the right decision.

“I think it was the only decision the premier could make in this situation,” he said. “In particular, it is important that he kept his promise with the people of Pictou Landing First Nation.”

He said there will be many people impacted by the job losses, including residents of his town, but he said people in Pictou County are resilient and he believes there will be new opportunities, particularly for the tourism sector.

“It shouldn’t be any secret that the town of Pictou has looked at this mill for 50 years,” he said. “Obviously there have been issues in the past with odours and air emissions. I think that there is a possibility that we can move forward to further develop our tourism opportunities.”