Sobering Pulp Mill news in North America.

Pulp mill closures are becoming common place this year, and they are causing economic havoc to the communities they are in.

Catalyst permanently shuts down Elk Falls pulp mill (440 employees gone) Workers are in shock, said Ian Simpson, president of the Campbell River local of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union. "It hasn't really sunk in yet," he said. He described the coastal forest industry as "completely screwed up," saying mills like Elk Falls are closing because they can't get fibre yet logs continue to be exported out of the province.

Smurfit-Stone to shut down Pontiac pulp mill (218 take a hike) "Deteriorating conditions in the pulp market necessitate that the company take prompt action to avoid cash losses," chief operating officer Steve Klinger said in the statement. "

Timeline: Berlin Pulp Mill Closure (200+ devastated) Bought for 31.5 million in 2002.

Prince George Citizen - New owners keeping pulp mill heated, union sees move as positive (250 left in the cold) Mill bought for 6.5 million in September. They are trying to secure materials. Sound Familiar?

tribunenb.com - An AV Cell shut down? (Many Threatened) "We've got the global economy in freefall right now…You'll see that it is an unprecedented situation where we've got pulp inventories skyrocketing around the world. Even though we are in the specialty bulk pulp business, the demand for the rayon, which is the final product, has just collapsed in China."

Delay of Reopening Mackenzie Pulp Mill Disappointing to Many It’s the uncertainty that is really stressing the workers says Bernasky “You can see it in their faces, there’s frustration, there’s anger. I know that if some of these people go, they may not come back, and the mill owners will lose the experience of those who really know this plant.”

Pope & Talbot prepare to shut three remaining pulp mills – Daily Commercial News (Nearly 1,000 out of work) But then 13 million can buy a pulp mill! Unique deal sees smiles for miles as Nanaimo pulp mill is back in business