The indefinite shutdown of a paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, threatens a way of life that has revolved around the plant for over a century. Most of the mill's 360 employees are out of work, receiving partial pay through government tariff relief, as locals seek to buy the plant back from its American owner, RYAM. The shutdown came after Canada-US trade talks broke down and Trump imposed more tariffs; property values fell almost overnight, and residents fear the town could become a ghost town.
“It's not just a job. It's our home,” said Nadine Suley. She was heading out moose hunting to take advantage of the short season, like much of the town. Ronnie Raymond, who comes from a family of mill workers, said that if the mill went down there would be “nothing, nothing left.” Union leader Stéphane Lefebvre, whose father and grandfather also worked at the mill, said, “We're in Game Seven right now,” adding, “We're gonna play till the last whistle.”
The town was built around the mill over a century ago. It faced a similar existential crisis in 1973, when workers and managers bought the threatened plant and turned it into Tembec, an international company. RYAM, the current American owner, purchased the mill in 2017 and went ahead with an “economic shutdown” for “an indefinite period” in early October after trade talks broke down.
Lefebvre says the coalition of locals hoping to buy back the mill cannot do so without significant help from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Quebec government. While Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced nearly C$9bn to help Ontario's steel and auto sectors, Lefebvre feels forestry has taken a back seat.
Frank Dottori, who led the successful employee purchase in the 1970s and went on to become CEO of Tembec, wonders if the current workers have the same bold leadership. "Does the local group have that? Highly unlikely. Can they get it? Yeah, if they if they organise themselves," he said.
Gauthier does not blame RYAM for its decision, instead calling the US tariffs "a bomb to shut down our manufacturing in Canada." He accused Ottawa of failing to fight back with sufficient force. "We feel we got into a war with kid's water guns to fight back," he said. Bloc Québécois MP Sébastien Lemire told the BBC he is "very concerned and worried" about what he called inaction from the Carney government.
A spokesperson for Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the government has made $400m available to support the forestry sector in rural and remote areas and is actively working with all parties involved to find a viable solution to issues facing the company. RYAM would not comment on a potential sale.
The mill, which produces paperboard used in frozen-food packaging and lottery tickets, sends roughly 75% of its output to the US. Trump argues the import taxes boost US manufacturing and create jobs, seeking to protect American workers. Some workers in Témiscaming are placing hope in the upcoming US midterm elections to pressure Trump to ease some tariffs, though changes to tariffs last week after lobbying from Senator Susan Collins did not apply to the mill's products.
Suley and others hope for a resolution before winter, when sub-zero temperatures could freeze equipment at the idle plant, making reopening even more difficult.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Illustrates the acute human cost of the US-Canada trade war, showing how abstract tariff policy can unravel the fabric of single-industry towns.
- Highlights disparities in government support for different industries affected by the tariffs, raising questions about political priorities.
- Demonstrates the complex interplay between local economic survival, international trade policy, and domestic politics in both the US and Canada.
Background
Témiscaming is a Canadian town in Quebec whose economy has depended almost entirely on its paper mill for over a century. The mill was saved from closure in the 1970s by an employee buyout, which created the successful company Tembec. The current crisis stems from the collapse of Canada-US trade talks in August 2026, leading to the reimposition of 50% US tariffs on Canadian forest products.
Key Perspectives
Mill workers (Nadine Suley, Ronnie Raymond, Stéphane Lefebvre): Fear the mill's indefinite shutdown could turn the town into a "ghost town" and are mobilising for a second employee buyout, though they say it requires significant government support.
Mayor Alain Gauthier: Does not blame the mill's owner but accuses the Canadian government of fighting the trade war with "kids' water guns" and failing to impose sufficient retaliatory duties on US board products.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly's office: Says the government has made C$400m available to support the forestry sector and is actively working with all parties to find a viable solution for the mill.
Bloc Québécois MP Sébastien Lemire: Says he is "very concerned and worried" about what he calls inaction from the Carney government to support the town and Quebec's forestry industry.
RYAM (mill owner): Would not comment on a potential sale of the plant or any prospective buyers.
What to Watch
- Whether the Canadian government provides targeted financial backing for the Témiscaming buyout bid, mirroring support given to the steel and auto sectors.
- Whether the upcoming US midterm elections lead to broader tariff relief that could restore the mill's economic viability.
- Whether a resolution can be reached before winter cold damages the idled plant's equipment.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump’s tariffs threaten the Quebec mill town, and residents are fighting to save it.BBC News: “Trump's tariffs could shutter this Canadian town - its residents are fighting to save it”
- SupportedMost of the mill’s 360 employees are out of work on partial pay from government tariff relief.BBC News: “Most of the mill‘s 360 employees are out of work, kept afloat for the moment with partial pay from government tariff-relief.”
- SupportedThe mill is idle after trade talks broke down and Trump imposed more tariffs.BBC News: “Now, the main employer and economic anchor sits idle after trade talks broke down between Canada and the US and President Donald Trump imposed more tariffs on the country.”
- SupportedProperty values in Témiscaming fell almost overnight.BBC News: “Property values in Témiscaming fell almost overnight”
- SupportedNadine Suley said, “It's not just a job. It's our home.”BBC News: “"It's not just a job. It's our home," Suley says”
- SupportedRonnie Raymond said that if the mill went down, there would be “nothing, nothing left.”BBC News: “"There'll be nothing, nothing left. There's no work for anybody, really. It's scary."”
- SupportedLefebvre said, “We're in Game Seven right now,” and “We're gonna play till the last whistle.”BBC News: “"We're in Game Seven right now," he says. "We're gonna play till the last whistle."”
- SupportedIn 1973, workers and managers bought the threatened mill and turned it into Tembec.BBC News: “prompting the local workers and managers to come together and purchase it. They turned it into Tembec, a Quebec-owned, international company”
- SupportedRYAM purchased the mill in 2017.BBC News: “RYAM, which purchased it in 2017.”
- SupportedCarney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced nearly C$9bn to help Ontario’s steel and auto sectors.BBC News: “Last week, Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced nearly C$9bn ($6.4bn; £4.8bn) to help Ontario's steel and auto sector.”
- SupportedDottori said, “Does the local group have that? Highly unlikely. Can they get it? Yeah, if they if they organise themselves.”BBC News: “"Does the local group have that? Highly unlikely. Can they get it? Yeah, if they if they organise themselves," he said.”
- SupportedA spokesperson for Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the government had made $400m available to support forestry in rural and remote areas.BBC News: “A spokesperson for Minister Joly told the BBC in a statement that the government has made available $400m to support the forestry sector in rural and remote areas.”