Union leaders say Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper could shift to making other paper products after it stops producing newsprint, but they say help from all levels of government will be needed.
The company announced Thursday it will shut down its newsprint operations because demand has dropped sharply. The move will affect about 150 workers. The mill will continue running as a Softwood Kraft mill and will keep producing renewable energy for Ontario’s power grid.
Rob St. Jean, president of Unifor Local 257, said the decision was difficult but not unexpected. He noted that each mill job supports many others in the community, meaning the impact could be felt widely. Some affected workers are not part of the union, including electricians and steam plant engineers.
The company says demand for newsprint in North America has fallen by 40 per cent since 2022. St. Jean said people now get most of their information online, but there is still a need for paper products.
“The future is in diversification,” he said, adding that municipal, provincial and federal governments all need to support the transition.
Federal jobs and families minister Patty Hajdu said the shutdown is concerning for workers and families and comes at a difficult time for the forestry sector. She pointed to high U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber and said several mills in northwestern Ontario have already shut down or slowed operations.
Hajdu said the federal government is working with the province to support affected workers and help industries deal with trade pressures.
Union leaders say there is still hope for the newsprint machine. They said it can be adapted to make other products, such as books and specialty paper, and the union wants to keep some workers on site to maintain it.
“It’s valuable infrastructure,” said union representative Andrew Hannam. “We want to see it used again, not left idle forever.”
