Vancouver Island pulp mill to reopen, $19M in government funding
Posted January 20, 2023 12:51 pm.
Last Updated January 20, 2023 3:13 pm.
A Vancouver Island pulp mill that had shut down operations last year is reopening, bringing back 100 jobs to the area.
The Paper Excellence Mill in Crofton, within the Cowichan Valley, has received a total of $19 million of support from the federal and provincial governments.
“Our provincial contribution of $4.5 million has leveraged another $14.5 million dollars from the federal government to form a joint investment with Paper Excellence,” Premier David Eby said Friday.
The Crofton mill announced it was closing indefinitely in October last year, with production ceasing in December. The closure affected around 150 workers at that time.
The mill will now be retooling to make new pulp products aimed at reducing the need for single-use plastics.
“This and other innovations will keep this mill competitive, and reduce production waste. Use fewer trees for the same volume of product and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Eby said.
“Crofton mill is going to be producing water-resistant paper packaging and cutlery that’s going to replace those single-use plastic items made out of petroleum.”
Earlier this week, the province announced up to $90 million for the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund to provide funding to forestry companies that require equipment to support new product lines.
“It’s good news for our economy. It’s good news for this community. It’s good news for everybody,” Eby said.
