Domtar shuts Howe Sound pulp mill and Bayview chipping plant, cutting 400 jobs

During a town-hall meeting on Aug. 20, Domtar revealed that its Howe Sound pulp and paper mill on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast will cease operations permanently, and the adjacent Bayview Fibre chipping plant will also be shut. Approximately 400 employees, many of whom have spent decades at the mill, will see their jobs end, with the final workday set for Oct. 19. President Luc Thériault attributed the move to a sustained drop in Asian demand, historically low pulp pricing and a shortage of affordable domestic fibre, stating the closure does not reflect employee performance.

Long-time tugboat captain Andrew Appleton expressed shock and uncertainty about his future, noting that some staff had recently relocated to the area for these jobs. The union’s national president, Lana Payne, described the curtailment as evidence of a worsening forestry sector crisis and called on provincial and federal governments to intervene. Domtar said it will monitor market conditions and may revisit the facilities if circumstances improve.