Today’s announcement of the closure of the Abitibi-Bowater mill is sad day for the people of Grand Falls-Windsor and the province, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

“I am very disappointed for the mill workers and the people of central Newfoundland,” said Ms. Jones. “After 100 years of operation it is unfortunate that the decision was taken to close the mill. There are now 1400 mill and forestry sector workers who will be negatively impacted by this decision and government must step forward with an economic adjustment plan to help these displaced workers.”

While Jones reiterated that this closure and other downturns in the industrial sector are related to the global economic crisis, she doesn’t feel the provincial government is being proactive in addressing the economic issues facing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

“Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale has been stating for the past couple of weeks that government has been working on a plan to address any potential mill closure that may take place. Now is the time to release that plan so workers can prepare for their futures and look for other opportunities. Unfortunately, unlike some of the opportunities that were available to displaced workers in Stephenville when their mill closed, employment in places in Alberta is no longer an option because of cancelled projects. This must be taken into consideration with any plan that may be developed.

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