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Nackawic mill shuts down

There are currently 49 feet of stainless steel irony standing proudly in the town of Nackawic. When the Forestry Ca…

There are currently 49 feet of stainless steel irony standing proudly in the town of Nackawic. When the Forestry Capital committee constructed a statuesque axe in 1991 to serve as a reminder of the town’s status as Canada’s forestry capital, it’s a sure bet the 400 workers at the St. Anne Nackawic mill never dreamed they would be getting the axe 13 years later.

Tuesday marked the closure of the pulp mill, leaving 400 people without jobs and an entire town reeling from shock. A bolstered Canadian dollar and exiguous market conditions are being fingered with blame for the closure.

According to CBC News, negotiations between Business Minister Peter Mesheau and mill owners Parsons and Whittemore came to a head on Monday night when the proprietors offered to sell the mill for $50 million. When the government abjured, the company shut down the mill.

The mill first opened its doors in 1970, providing more than half the town with employment. The mill created opportunities for a wide range of derivative businesses, providing many townspeople with forest related or industrial jobs. The prior success of the mill secured Nackawic residents with some of Canada’s highest grossing family incomes.