Harmac Pacific officials voiced their displeasure with a motion which could lead to restrict large emission-producing industrial activity in Nanaimo. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

climate talk

Harmac Pacific rejects potential restrictions for ’emissions intense heavy industries’

Dec 17, 2025 | 5:36 AM

NANAIMO — Exploratory discussions around potentially restricting industrial business activities in Nanaimo irked representatives of an integral local employer.

A pair of Nanaimo Forest Products (NFP) directors, which operates Duke Point’s Harmac Pacific pulp mill, took exception to the following narrowly approved Nov. 17 notice of motion from Nanaimo city councillor Paul Manly.

‘That staff prepare a report with options on zoning amendment to Bylaw 4500 that exclude emissions intense heavy industries such as waste-to-energy incinerators, chemical plants, thermal electric generators, petroleum refineries and liquefied natural gas export facilities from existing industrial zones in order to require site specific zoning.”

At the Monday, Dec 15 council meeting, Bruce Martin and Frank Crucil denounced the motion, which will see City staff produce a report with options for council’s consideration.

Harmac Pacific is actively attempting to rezone a pair of adjacent Phoenix Way lots involving a combined 244 acres bordering Cedar’s Cable Bay Trail.

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“If this bylaw were to become a reality, it would threaten the ability of our business to continue; it would restrict our ability to diversify and grow, which is essential to our success,” Martin said at the recent council meeting.

City staff are reviewing a Dec 2023 rezoning request submitted from Nanaimo Forest Products to switch these two lots from a rural resource to an industrial class designation (City of Nanaimo)

Crucil expanded on Martin’s concerns, telling Nanaimo Council that NFP needs to continue diversifying, pointing to BC Hydro’s purchase of their conversion of wood waste into electricity as an example.

Crucil addressed a hypothetical scenario from coun. Manly about the potential of a large-scale garbage burning operation to be established in Nanaimo.

Manly said the intent of his motion is to prevent industrial-scale garbage incineration locally.

“You think I’m going to put a waste garbage incineration Nanaimo? And even if I did it doesn’t make financial (sense) business model,” Crucil said, who noted garbage incineration isn’t feasible without heavy government subsidization.

Crucil said they comply with all existing environmental conditions.

“Now you have staff to do a report they are not qualified to do and their first comment goes out to Harmac. Now we’re appearing to council so-to-speak as firemen.”

Mayor Leonard Krog is heavily opposed to the motion.

“This motion basically says to anyone who wants to invest in this community ‘Don’t bother going to Nanaimo, don’t bother worrying about whether the land is zoned for heavy industry because Nanaimo wants to limit everything that might actually create some real jobs…’”

Nanaimo’s chief administrative officer Dale Lindsay said while City Council can regulate land usage, it has a limited ability to regulate emission levels, pointing to wood stove burning and vehicle idling as examples.

Harmac Pacific employs roughly 340 employees at its specialty pulp operation, which features a unique employee-owned ownership model.

The mill was resurrected in 2008 after its former owner filed for bankruptcy.

Crofton’s pulp and paper mill, owned by Domtar, announced its recent closure, impacting about 350 employees.

Harmac Pacific pulp mill manager Craig Dubyk told NanaimoNewsNOW last week that while their operation is also dealing with challenging market conditions, they have no plans to layoff any workers.

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