IGNACE — Domtar’s Ignace sawmill will halve its operating hours soon and then shut down for one month over the holidays.
The mill currently operates 80 hours per week. Beginning Nov. 25, it will run a single shift, 40 hours a week until Dec. 20, when it will pause production.
In a written statement to Newswatch on Thursday, Domtar confirmed the reduction in operations. "This difficult decision was made due to high operating costs and a weak lumber market."
The company plans to resume operations after a month. "Our sawmill will take an extended holiday break from December 20, 2024 with an anticipated restart on January 20, 2025."
It's expected the mill will continue to operate at 40 hours a week when it restarts.
In an emailed statement to Newswatch, Domtar public affairs director Antoine Kack said the corporation “is committed to supporting its employees during this period.”
“It’s unfortunate because we’re getting into the holiday season,” said Wes Ridler, who represents United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-2010 members at the mill.
Ridler said the company “called me and made me aware what was going on.
“It did not come as a complete shock, given market conditions right now, but still it’s very unfortunate for the workers.”
Ridler expects about 20 mill workers and perhaps eight outside workers, all represented by USW, will be laid off.
Seniority will factor into the matter of which workers face layoffs, he said.
Asked what supports the union will offer laid-off workers, Ridler said he is “always a phone call away for those people” as their representative.
The union also offers “mental health support, crisis support and those types of things,” he added. “I believe the employer offers that as well.”
Township of Ignace spokesperson Jake Pastore said the municipality is “happy to be there to support” anyone impacted by the layoffs and shutdown.
“We’re sad to hear that there’s going to be layoffs. It definitely will impact Ignace and it will impact Northwestern Ontario,” he said.
“The door is always open for us to be able to sit down and discuss any assistance we can provide from our position.”
“The door’s open at the township if (Domtar) wants to come in and talk to us about their plans.”
In the statement to Newswatch, the company said it is "committed to supporting its employees during this period."
