The community of Espanola continues to show tremendous resilience in the weeks following Domtar’s gradual closure. This has been devastating news for over 450 employees and their families and for the countless others impacted in connected industries. Espanola is not the first community in Northern Ontario that has faced challenges due to mill closures and resourced based economies. Similar events have happened in communities like Sturgeon Falls, Elliot Lake and many more.

MP Serré would like to commend Espanola’s Town Council for taking immediate action and working proactively with stakeholders, employees, and all levels of Government to find solutions. Additionally, the Federal government ensured direct support measures were available to employees. Service Canada and FedNor agents continue to work with staff to ensure they have the proper information to access the benefits and services they need.

This morning a special meeting is being held with local, provincial, and Federal government representatives, Indigenous representatives, and other stakeholders. The discussions will center around Espanola’s unique strengths and to discuss viable options to support the community’s recovery efforts and to develop a plan to move forward.

The pulp and paper sector, along with the forestry industry, has played a critical role in Canada’s trade and exports for over 200 years. Forestry is woven in the history of Canada, and we boast some of the highest quality products on the globe. The industry has provided multi-generational careers to many families and has sparked important conversations about Canada’s conservation efforts. Domtar’s closure does not have to mean the end of Espanola’s pulp and paper legacy.

The industry is evolving and will clearly be a vital contributor to building a strong and sustainable net-zero economy, creating sustainable jobs at home, and providing low-carbon products to domestic and global markets. For example, energy production through biomass thermal conversion represents a significant opportunity to create jobs while supplying affordable, reliable clean energy to communities and industry. This opportunity can be pursued in tandem with existing protective measure to reduces a forest’s susceptibility to fires. Espanola’s sustainability can be built with multiple approaches and the efforts will continue to be spearheaded locally based on their priorities, investments, and strategic initiatives.

Quotes

“I’m looking forward to this morning’s productive discussions. This meeting builds upon the groundwork put in motion by Espanola’s dedicated council from the moment the news broke. As Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources I remain accessible to Espanola and my support to Mayor Gervais, his team, and the impacted people of Espanola is unwavering. In light of Domtar’s tragic closure, my office is working actively in collaboration with local counterparts. I am hopeful that through focused and collaborative efforts, we will pursue pathways to continue creating jobs and building a prosperous future for the residents of Espanola and surrounding areas.” – Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

“Our community remains resilient during this challenging time, and I believe this speaks to the kind of community we have, one that is strong and where we look out for one another. While the news is still fresh and many are still deciding where to go from here, there has been a lot of positivity, and many are beginning to find jobs in the region. We are hopeful that the mill has a future, and we will continue to work with government and other stakeholders to position Espanola as an attractive location for pulp and paper or similar industries given the significant infrastructure that is in place to support operations in this sector. I have appreciated the support of MP Serré, MPP Mantha and both federal and provincial ministers who have taken the time to meet with me and to offer their support. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to do anything we can to lessen the impact on the community. We are confident that the Town will continue to thrive, but there is work to be done to ensure it is best positioned to do so.”- Douglas Gervais, Mayor of Espanola

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Media Contact:
Kaylie Dudgeon
Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré
MP Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
705-507-2416
[email protected]