The town of Témiscaming in Quebec is staring down an uncertain road ahead. Its paper mill, which has been the lifeblood of the community for a century, is now closed indefinitely. This follows the US slapping tariffs of up to 50% on Canadian goods. The mill's American owner, RYAM, announced the shutdown in early October, leaving most of the 360 employees without jobs. They're now relying on partial government tariff-relief payments to get by.
For Témiscaming, the mill isn't just an employer—it's a pillar of the community. Since it was built, it's been central to life here. Residents like Nadine Suley worry about more than just job losses. They fear their way of life is at risk. Suley, who plans to hunt moose to make ends meet, sees the US tariffs as a "personal attack" on her town.
The economic fallout is clear. Property values have taken a nosedive and "For Sale" signs are everywhere. Essential service workers, grocery clerks, hospital staff, might leave too. They fear the town could become a "ghost town, " warns resident Ronnie Raymond.
While Canada has held steady overall in the face of the US trade war, with unemployment hovering around 6.5%, some sectors have been hit hard. Industries tied to steel, aluminum, autos, and forestry are feeling the pinch. This includes lumber, pulp, and paper.
Témiscaming's mill has faced big challenges before. Back in 1973, workers and managers joined forces to buy the mill from its American owner, creating Tembec, a Quebec-owned company. Now, there's hope to do it again. Workers want to buy the plant back from RYAM. But they know they'll need serious government help to pull it off.
Stéphane Lefebvre, a union leader at the mill, says government support is crucial. Whether through tariff relief or financial backing, it's needed to make a purchase happen. He argues the forestry sector is being overlooked as efforts focus on saving industries like steel and autos.
Canada has retaliated against the tariffs with its own "dollar-for-dollar" counter-tariffs. But Mayor Alain Gauthier is not impressed with Ottawa's response. He says Canada is not equipped to handle this economic spat with the US.
Meanwhile, the federal government has earmarked $400 million to support rural and remote areas. They've also launched initiatives to help businesses shift away from US markets. But Sébastien Lemire, the MP for Témiscaming, is worried the government isn't doing enough for his town.
The Témiscaming mill is crucial to the local economy. It exports about 75% of its output to the US, including paperboard for frozen-food packaging and scratch-off lottery tickets. The tariffs, designed by President Donald Trump to boost US manufacturing, have put Canadian livelihoods at risk.
As Témiscaming faces its future, some residents are looking to the upcoming US midterm elections. They hope political pressure might ease the tariffs. Frank Dottori, a former engineer and CEO of the mill, remembers the successful worker-led buyout in the 1970s. He stresses the need for bold leadership to steer through the current crisis.
