The Sunshine Coast Regional District is creating a working group to bring together resources to help workers affected by the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill closure.
Elected officials and managers from local government met with the provincial government’s community transition services late last week to discuss the closure.
“Community transition services supports communities through significant economic changes, including the closure or reduction of operations at major employers. Provincial staff will work over the coming weeks and months to help identify emerging needs, challenges and available supports. Further information about the program can be found here,” reads a news release from the SCRD.
The working group is expected to meet near the end of this month or in early September.
The SCRD says the first priority is supporting workers and it expects the community transition services to bring together resources from Service BC and WorkBC to identify support, employment services and training for workers.
“Local elected officials understand that our community is still processing [last week’s] announcement and that many people have questions and concerns about what comes next,” the SCRD says. “We are committed to working together and ensuring that the needs of affected workers, families, contractors, businesses and the broader community remain at the forefront.”
