Irving Paper operations update
Saint John (NB) – Irving Paper, Limited will permanently shut down 50 per cent of its operations as a direct result of New Brunswick’s uncompetitive industrial electricity rates. The company made the announcement to the 140 impacted employees today, effective immediately.
In remarks to employees today, Irving Pulp & Paper Vice-President Mark Mosher said:
“Our employees are not just colleagues, they’re family. That’s why the decision to permanently downsize is a difficult one, but necessary to ensure the company’s long-term sustainability in the face of skyrocketing electricity rates.
“Our top priority now is to support impacted team members.”
The company is working closely with government agencies to assist affected employees with the transition.
“As New Brunswick manufacturers face more and more significant headwinds, it is becoming increasingly difficult to shoulder the impact of soaring electricity costs and remain competitive in an international market,” Mosher said. “We have been working collaboratively with the current Government of New Brunswick toward a solution, but presently there is no viable alternative for full operation of both paper machines. Over the next number of weeks, we will continue to work with the provincial government to try to develop a plan to allow the continued operation of the remaining 50 per cent of the mill, prior to the additional 10 per cent electricity rate increase on April 1, 2025.”
“Irving Paper is a world-class facility that we have invested significant resources in to be top quartile in virtually every category, including energy efficiency,” Mosher added. “Seeing a facility like ours partially shut down due to uncompetitive electricity rates marks a sad day for many.”
Located at 435 Bayside Drive in Saint John, Irving Paper is a world class manufacturer of graphic paper for use in magazines, catalogs, newspapers and advertising flyers. At the present time, the facility directly employs 310 people and supports over 300 suppliers in New Brunswick, with a total of $144 Million in purchases in 40 communities in 2023. It is also a major consumer of wood chips from New Brunswick sawmills which are supplied, in part, by local private woodlots and marketing boards.
Over 95 per cent of Irving Paper’s annual manufacturing output (400,000 tonnes of paper) is exported to 65 countries.
