The sign in front of the Port Alberni paper mill changed yesterday, and government, company, and union representatives believe it’s a positive change.
Leaders gathered in front of the Crofton Mill yesterday morning to make the official announcement and unveil the new signs.
BC Premier John Horgan said Paper Excellence stepped in when workers pensions and mill investments seemed in jeopardy.
Brian Baarda, who was a vice-president for Catalyst paper for a decade, says the new deal puts the paper in Paper Excellence, as the company he has been the CEO of for the past few years, was more about pulp production.
Unifor Executive Assistant to the President Scott Doherty says the announcement is good news for the former Catalyst employees, and their experience with Paper Excellence has been good.
Doherty says they’ve been working with Paper Excellence in their Howe Sound mills for the past few years, and he’s confident the ownership change will benefit Port Alberni workers.
He said Catalyst was struggling, and now that there’s more market confidence, they can turn their attention to issues around fibre supply and hydro rates.
Mid-Island Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser said the sale brings some security to Catalyst’s 323 local employees, and many retirees and local contractors.
Fraser said his NDP government passed legislature to protect pensioners if Catalyst crashed, and helped facilitate discussions with Paper Excellence.
He said the coastal forestry revitalization work his government is engaged in will further assist the forest industry
