Paper mill closures don't just happen in Northern Ontario.

Domtar will be laying off 185 workers on March 31st from its paper mill in Cornwall, Ontario, located in eastern Ontario.

Discussions are underway to determine the future of the facility. Domtar may recover assets from the mill to use in its other facilities. A study will be commissioned to determine the "value and potential best use for the site". Demolition is an option.

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is outraged that he mill is being closed when a market for the product obviously still exists, as Domtar has shifted production of the paper made in Cornwall to a mill in Shouguang, China, where Domtar is a partner.

"The people of Cornwall and of Ontario have been duped," said Bob Huget, CEP Ontario Administrative Vice President. "While community and union leaders went to Queen's Park to work on plans for a co-generation plant which could have kept the Cornwall mill open, Domtar clearly already had plans to ship the work offshore. At the end of the day, it was Domtar which rejected the co-gen option."

An employee action centre has opened in Cornwall to assist the workers with career adjustment plans.

Sources:
Last sheet of paper rolls out of Domtar's Cornwall mill (Pulp & Paper Canada)
Domtar confirms Cornwall plans (Pulp & Paper Canada)
Shame on Domtar - CEP (Press Release)
Domtar's Employee Action Centre Opened its Doors (Press Release)