Plant Closure Speaks To Bigger Issue: Minister

New Brunswick’s labour minister says the closure of the Arauco particleboard plant in St. Stephen is a huge blow for the region.

ARAUCO North America announced Wednesday it would be ceasing operations on Dec. 13, affecting between 60 and 75 jobs.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder spoke to reporters less than three hours after the news broke publicly.

“We are going to have folks from my department … on the ground today to work with the company and to see what the next steps are over the next few days,” said Holder.

“We need to make sure we’re not just working with the company but with the employees to make sure the employees have the resources available to them for a possible transition to work in other places in the region.”

The department, he said, feels comfortable they can find “many opportunities” in the region for the affected workers.

‘We have to get our head out of the sand’

Holder stressed the closure speaks to a bigger economic development issue — the need for more competitiveness in the province.

The company said a number of factors influenced its decision, including high costs for natural gas and electricity, and increased competition from newer and larger facilities.

“This is another signal to a minority legislature that we have to get our head out of the sand when it comes to safe, responsible natural gas development in this province,” Holder said.

Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason said losing that many jobs will be a tremendous hit to the community.

“It’s these jobs that are so important to keeping our New Brunswickers in the province,” said Anderson-Mason, noting her husband used to work at the plant.

“Many of the people who will be losing their jobs I will know personally. As I was driving through Route 3, I have to tell you I was saddened. I drove by homes that I know will be affected by this. The very line that is closing is the line that my husband worked on.”

Company officials said Fibrex operations, which employ 120 employees at the plant, will continue to operate.