By David Wiwchar

Crisis could be coming to Port Alberni

Raw Log Exports blamed for mill closure

Dec 9, 2025 | 9:16 AM

Laid off paper mill workers are blaming MOSAIC and the federal government for the closure of the Crofton pulp and paper mill.

Geoff Dawe, National President of PPWC and longtime Catalyst Crofton power engineer says paper mill workers watched their jobs float away as raw log exports filled freighters in Crofton Harbour bound for Asia.

“MOSAIC is on the very property of Crofton on the waterfront, receiving anywhere from 50 to 100 tractor trailer loads a day of fibre,” he said. “Why are they allowed to export these logs while our jobs are being taken from us because of no fibre?”

Dawe says the Crofton closure is the death knell of the coastal forest industry and believes more mill closures are coming.

“That is fundamentally in my opinion how we got here, letting a company like MOSAIC have such a strong hold on this island and on the coast. They ship out everything that can be used here on the coast for fibre,” he said. “You’re going to have a hole in the mid island that eventually I think it’s going to lead to Port Alberni.”

fisheries act

'Deplorable:' fishing violations net $30,000 fine for Gabriola Island woman

3h ago

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

Dec 14, 2025

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Dawe said his biggest concern is the 350 people laid off just before Christmas, and the hundreds more jobs that will be lost, devastating the surrounding communities.

He is urging the federal government to stop raw log exports from private managed forest lands before more jobs are lost.