Is was like watching two different movies.  The first, in which Forest Minister Pat Bell faced the wrath of the people of Mackenzie at a giant rally in that community one cold April day.  Then yesteday, the sequel,  where people stood around and clapped under warm clear skies.

 

The Mackenzie Pulp Mill Corporation officially came into being Tuesday when Premier Campbell pulled the switch to officially turn the first pulp.

 

Some 250 people, about 75% who weathered the storm in Mackenzie hanging on hoping that the mill would reopen, finally got their wish and their job back.

 

It was a community effort.

 

Pat Bell, Minister of Forests had worked tirelessly on the file hoping to snare a buyer and for awhile the mill was tied up in legal wrangling but in the end, the efforts of the Provincial government, the Union (CEP), The Town of Mackenzie and it’s Mayor Stephanie Killam, the members of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and pretty much every citizen in the community made the thing happen.

 

The province won’t receive many accolades for its efforts although it should.  The province pumped money into protecting the mill and had it not, there would not have been enough left for a sale.

 

It would be wrong to single out anyone from the group, it is, suffice to say, a job well done by all of you.  You are a credit not only to your area, but the whole of the province.

 

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.