Canadian paper mill shut by US tariffs threatens town of Témiscaming

The paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, has been placed on an indefinite economic shutdown after US President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on Canadian lumber, pulp and paper products.

The mill, which once employed about 360 workers and formed the economic backbone of the town, is now idle. Employees are receiving only partial pay through government tariff‑relief measures, and property values have fallen sharply, with many homes now marked “For Sale”.

Local residents fear a cascade of job losses beyond the mill, warning that essential services such as the grocery store and the small hospital could also be jeopardised. “If the mill goes down, it’ll turn into a ghost town,” said resident Ronnie Raymond.

Community response

Workers and unions are mobilising a coalition to purchase the plant from its American owner, RYAM, which bought the mill in 2017. Union leader Stéphane Lefebvre said any buy‑back would require substantial support from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Quebec government, either through further tariff relief or financial aid.

Ryam declined to comment on a possible sale. Mayor Alain Gauthier described the US tariffs as “a bomb to shut down our manufacturing”.

Source: BBC News. Photo: Natur_u_ meer / Pexels.