A job fair for workers from the Crofton pulp mill, which will soon be closing, will be held on Jan. 15.
The details about the job fair, which is being organized by Domtar, the mill’s owner, and supported by WorkBC, will be announced at a later date.
The job fair is one of several initiatives underway to assist the approximately 450 impacted mill workers.
North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said the municipality’s top priority currently is responding to the Crofton mill closure.
He said that means making sure workers get immediate supports for re-training, finding new jobs, accessing employment insurance, or bridging to retirement, while also advocating to the provincial and federal governments for transition funding for North Cowichan as it braces for a major reduction in its industrial tax base.
“At the same time, it means working with government and industry to explore future uses of the Crofton mill site, whether that’s producing pulp and paper products under a new owner, or alternative industrial uses that will provide local jobs and reduce the burden on our taxpayers,” Douglas said.
A press release from North Cowichan said that, following the initial meeting of the Community Transition Table, which the provincial government convened in response to the mill closure, staff from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth worked with union leadership from the Private and Paper Workers of Canada to host an information session for workers on Dec. 18 at the Crofton Community Centre.
“Approximately 40 mill workers took advantage of the session to learn more about employment counselling, employment insurance, academic advising, and entrepreneurship programs,” North Cowichan said.
“Representatives from WorkBC, Service Canada, Vancouver Island University, Northern Innovation Network, and the Construction Foundation of B.C. were on hand. As well, WorkBC’s Duncan office has expanded their service hours to evenings and weekends through to mid-January to support impacted mill workers and have a dedicated phone line for workers at 778-731-2374.”
As well, on Dec. 18, Douglas met with Forests Minister Ravi Parmar, Cowichan Valley MLA Debra Toporowski, leadership from the United Steelworkers of Canada, and workers from Western Forest Products’ Chemainus sawmill, which has been shut down since June, impacting 150 employees.
“While the discussion focused mainly on provincial actions to support the long-term future of the Chemainus sawmill and its workers, it was also discussed how the health of our coastal sawmills, and their ability to produce residual wood chips, will have a significant impact on the viability of any future pulp and paper operations at the Crofton mill site,” North Cowichan said.
“A number of companies and individuals have also reached out to North Cowichan expressing early interest in repurposing of the mill site. While these enquiries are very early and not fully developed business plans, the level of interest in developing industry in Crofton is encouraging.”
