The town of Témiscaming in the province of Kebek, Canada, is facing a serious economic crisis, as the paper factory, the chief employer and pillar of the local economy for more than a century has interrupted activity for an indefinite period.
The decision of the American company RYAM, owner of the factory, came after the escalation of the trade war between Canada and the US, as well as the establishment of American tariffs on Canadian products.
As a result, most of the 360 workers have been laid off, while they are currently surviving due to partial compensation from government programs.
For residents, the construction of the factory means not only the loss of jobs but also the risk of the whole city’s future.
It’s not just a job. It’s our home, says Nadine Sully, one of the residents, adding that the American tariffs to her city felt like a personal attack.
Fear is that the departure of workers will also cause the escape of other residents, including shop employees and local hospital doctors.
If the factory is permanently closed, this place will turn into a ghost town, says Ronnie Raymond, a member of a long tradition of factory work.
There will be nothing left, absolutely nothing. Actually, there’s no job for anyone. It’s scary. )
The factory produces cardboard for packing frozen foods and lottery scratching tickets, while about 75 percent of the product is exported to the U.S. The impact of closure can also spread on wood saws and transportation companies in the region.
Residents have already launched an effort to buy the factory from the RYAM company and restore it to local ownership, as the workers had done in 1973, when the company faced a similar threat. Then they managed to turn it into the Tembec company, which expanded to international markets.
We hope the lightning will strike twice in the same place, says Stéphane Lefebvre, factory employee and union representative.
However, he stresses that financial support from the federal government and Kebek is needed for the realisation of this initiative.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the municipality, Alain Gauthier, has named American tariffs a bomb to destroy production in Canada, demanding countermass by the Canadian government.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has announced that it has allocated $400m for support of the forest sector in rural and remote areas, as well as launched programmes for businesses affected by tariffs.
According to the BBC report, in August the U.S. placed 50 percent rates on Canadian products worth about $28 billion, including wood and paper products. Canada has responded with mutual tariffs.
Workers hope that an agreement will be found before winter, as subzero temperatures can cause damage to factory equipment and make it even more difficult to reopen.
We’re in the seventh fight now. We will play to the last whisper, Lefebvre says, expressing determination to save the factory and the future of the city.
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Source Layer: Signal