Domtar to permanently close pulp mill in Howe Sound, B.C., where 350 work

Domtar has announced it will permanently close its pulp mill in Howe Sound, British Columbia, where approximately 400 workers are employed. This decision comes after the company's December shutdown of its Crofton mill and Canfor's recent closure of its Northwood mill in Prince George. The closure is attributed to reduced demand from Asia, low prices, and a decline in affordable domestic fiber.

British Columbia's Forests Minister Ravi Parmar expressed the closure as an "immensely difficult day" for the Sunshine Coast, emphasizing the loss of livelihoods that have supported families and communities for generations. Domtar's president, Luc Thériault, noted that the decision is due to economic factors. The forestry union Unifor called the closure a "deepening crisis" in the sector, warning that the industry's collapse could be imminent without government intervention.