Dear Prime Minister Mark Carney,
Dear Premier David Eby,
We are writing to follow up on the pending closure of the Crofton Pulp Mill and to raise two urgent issues affecting the workers and community that will be impacted.
Worker Transition Funding
The first issue concerns the Federal Government’s establishment of a $50 million fund dedicated specifically to worker transition in the softwood lumber industry. This funding forms part of a broader $1.2 billion support package intended to help transform the sector and mitigate the impacts of high U.S. tariffs.
We understand that this financial package is currently being negotiated between the federal and provincial governments through Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) with provinces and territories. On behalf of the affected workers, we respectfully request that these negotiations be finalized as soon as possible so that funding can begin flowing to workers and to the community of Crofton.
The urgency is significant, as the first layoffs at the Crofton mill are scheduled to occur on February 3, 2026. Timely access to these funds is critical to supporting workers and the community during this transition.
Employment Insurance Extensions
The second issue concerns Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) temporary relief measures. In 2025, the federal government introduced important supports, including waiving the one-week waiting period and suspending separation payment rules until April 11, 2026, for claims starting in March 2025. In addition, long-tenured workers were granted up to 20 additional weeks of benefits—up to a maximum of 65 weeks—for claims beginning in June 2025. These measures were intended to provide stability during periods of economic disruption, particularly those related to tariff impacts.
While these changes are positive and necessary, a significant concern remains. The second round of layoffs at the Crofton mill is scheduled for April 13, 2026—just two days after these temporary EI measures expire. As a result, affected workers may miss access to critical supports through no fault of their own. This timing is creating substantial and unnecessary anxiety for workers and their families.
We are therefore asking that these EI extensions be continued to ensure workers impacted by the Crofton mill closure are not excluded from essential supports due to an arbitrary timing gap.
Finally, the union is committed to being a constructive partner in ensuring that the town of Crofton and the affected workers are supported through this unfortunate event with as little long-term damage as possible. We are eager to work collaboratively with all levels of government to achieve this goal.
Thank you for your time and attention to these urgent matters. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Geoff Dawe
National President, Public and Private Workers of Canada
nationalpresident@ppwc.ca
Shawn Campbell
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions
president@ccu-csc.ca
