Fraser Papers may reopen its Juniper mill in New Brunswick this fall. The mill has been closed since October 2007.

Paul McKinely, general manager of Fraser's lumber mill division, said they are making preparations to start the mill and they are calling their employees to see if any are available to come back to work in September.

If the mill is restarted, 1 shift would return to work. That would provide employment for about 70 of the 175 workers who were given layoff notices when the mill went idle last fall.

Idling of the mill was blamed on a continued oversupply of lumber from a weak U.S. housing market and a strong Canadian dollar.

If the mill can reopen, Fraser Papers is planning to operate it for only 3-4 months.

The mood in Juniper is rising with talk of reopening the mill.

An I-joist plant across the road from the Juniper mill remains closed. It employed 85 people.

Source:
Juniper mill may reopen this fall - Fraser papers says it may reopen mill for three to four months (Times & Transcript)