Mackenzie Mayor Taking Wait and See Attitude on Mill Sale
By 250 News
Prince George,. B.C. – With news the Pope and Talbot owned Mackenzie pulp mill has a tentative buyer, (see Mackenzie Mill Part of Tentative Deal) Mackenzie Mayor Stephanie Killam is expressing some relief. “We all knew that mill would be bought by someone, it is a great mill and has access to a good fibre basket.”
The process has started which allows other companies to submit a bid. If another company expresses an interest by February 1st, there could be an auction on February 5th.
The bottom line price is $225 million for the Mackenzie pulp mill and two others.
Mayor Killam is not as positive about the future of the Canfor Mackenzie sawmill “I am cautiously optimistic about the future of that operation” says Killam “We will need to see what plays out.” The Mackenzie saw mill was spared from indefinite closure with the reduction in staff and some production efficiencies. There has been a change in management at that mill and the community wonders if there is any message in that change.
Killam says the community is interested to hear what the new funding from the Federal Government (see Help Announced for Displaced Forestry Workers) will provide, although they aren’t banking on it. “We knew that we had to diversify our economy and that is what we are doing, but we will be meeting with Jay Hill (MP for Prince George - Peace River) next week to get some details.”
The Mayor is strong in her resolve “I know the next 6-8 months are going to be tough, but we will come out of it and we will come out of it with more. I know there are some who say this is an election year and we shouldn’t do this, or we shouldn’t do that. I am going to keep on working, and when the election comes around, well, if people don’t like what I have done, then I will be voted out, but I will know I have done the very best job I can .”
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Posted by: vulcan on January 14 2008 1:54 PM
There are a number of smaller communities feeling the effects of the Pope and Talbot
failure as well as the Pine Beetle issue, that could take some lessons from her!
I think it's safe to say that over the next couple of years there will some major changes in more than a few city councils here in the north!
And rightly so!
The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and this is what these people get paid for!
Keep up the good work Stephanie!!