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last mo.

Nackawic Pulp Mill Set to Close as Province Seeks New Jobs Through Defence Tech and Social Programs

Federal defence spending growth has opened procurement opportunities that Vimy Forge and MaRS say they will route to Canadian firms.

The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association recently released report Farming Our Future says the sector supports more than 9,400 jobs and generates $3.2 billion in economic output.
The Meductic Community Centre is the focus of ongoing asbestos and air-quality concerns, with Lakeland Ridges council voting to release related records publicly once its current legal matter concludes.
The seawall in West Vancouver.
Election signs in Richmond on Sept. 16.

Overview

  • The AV Nackawic pulp mill is expected to shut on Nov. 4, putting 228 unionized workers out of work and threatening hundreds more jobs and roughly $35–$40 million in annual local economic activity.
  • Local business owners and municipal leaders say the loss will cut household incomes, reduce spending at shops and services, and are pursuing industrial-park expansion and site reuse to attract new employers.
  • Fredericton’s Vimy Forge has formed a formal partnership with Toronto’s MaRS to help Canadian founders compete for billions in projected federal defence procurement after Ottawa reached a 2% of GDP defence spending target.
  • Vimy Forge received $977,000 from Ottawa in February to mentor companies and build sovereign technology capacity, and MaRS will supply commercialization and capital expertise to create on-ramps for defence-focused start-ups.
  • Provincial social responses include Bathurst council moving forward with rezoning for a 64-unit affordable housing project and the release of a student-wellness survey showing large gaps by socioeconomic status, such as only 35% of low-income students rating their health very good or excellent versus a 51% provincial average.