Canadian Town Fights to Save Paper Mill Threatened by US Tariffs

The paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, has been shut down indefinitely after trade talks broke down between Canada and the United States, and President Donald Trump implemented tariffs of up to 50% on Canadian goods. The mill serves as the economic anchor of the town, which was built around the facility over a century ago. Most of the 360 employees are currently out of work, relying on partial pay from government tariff-relief while property values decline and residents worry about the future of essential services.

Locals, including union leader Stéphane Lefebvre and resident Nadine Suley, are attempting to organise a coalition to buy the plant back from its American owner, RYAM, echoing a historical 1973 effort when workers successfully purchased the mill and formed Tembec. However, residents argue they cannot achieve this without significant financial support or tariff relief from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Quebec government. Mayor Alain Gauthier has called on Ottawa to implement stronger retaliatory measures against American board products, expressing frustration with the current federal response.

Meanwhile, the federal government states it has made $400 million available to support rural forestry sectors and is working with all parties to find a viable solution. As residents hope for relief from upcoming US midterm elections or changes in trade policy, they face a race against time before winter freezing temperatures could potentially damage the idle plant's equipment and make future reopening efforts even more difficult.