Town seeks answers on mill’s future

PORT ALBERNI The City of Port Alberni and its forest industry took direct aim at Western Forest Products this week, telling the forest giant to put its money where its mill is.

Using the empty lot of the idled 42-acre Somass sawmill as its backdrop, the union representing coastal forest workers and its supporters demanded Western Forest Products either invest in and reopen the mill or sell the site to someone willing to put the Alberni Valley to work.

“I’m calling on Western to either invest in this site and reopen or make the bold decision to sell it to someone who is prepared to do that,” Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan told a group of more than 200 United Steelworkers and other supporters. “This business of holding the workers, holding the city and this area hostage is not OK. This decision to close the mill, but not really shut it down officially is not OK.”

Western Forest Products announced the indefinite idling of the mill in July. It had been temporarily idled since February, and before that ran with only a single shift.

Ruttan asked the company to “show some belief in the future of Port Alberni.”

The company’s status as a major employer and taxpayer will not stop the city from calling on them “to reinvest in the area where it takes part of its wealth from,” he added.

The rally was organized by United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, which represents coastal forest workers on the Island, most employed by Western.

“They are testing the water to see if they get any push back,” said Brian Butler, president of the local. “If there’s no reaction, they will tear it down.”

He also suggested that with just one shift working at its AlberniPacific mill, Western is indicating it would prefer to get out of the area.

“It’s ridiculous they get to shut down these mills and there’s no consequence,” Butler said.