Pulp mill in Howe Sound, B.C., to reopen after shutting ‘indefinitely’ back in August

GIBSONS — A union representing B.C. pulp mill workers says it’s welcoming news that a shuttered facility in Howe Sound is set to reopen later this month.

Unifor says a deal between the province and operator Domtar has the mill poised to get back up and running should members ratify a new collective agreement next week.

Domtar said in August that it was shutting the Howe Sound pulp mill indefinitely due to a drop in demand, low prices and not enough available fibre.

Unifor national president Lana Payne says the reopening is “terrific news” for members and the community on the Sunshine Coast, lauding “close collaboration” between the government, workers and industry to keep the sector alive and sustainable.

The Truck Loggers Association says it’s “encouraged by the news” that the mill in Port Mellon is set to start up again later this month.

The association says the mill employs many people on the Sunshine Coast while playing a “significant role in the broader coastal forest economy.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2026.

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