Status of Miramichi economy topic of emergency meeting

Miramichi, New Brunswick has suffered from the downturn in the forestry sector, but the city held its hopes high on a new $700 million plant that was to be build at the old UPM-Kymmene mill site to manufacture parts for solar panels.

Unfortunately, Umoe Solar recently pulled the plug on the polysilicon plant citing global market conditions as the reason.

Miramichi's mayor, Gerry Cormier, said the move came as a complete shock and he is calling on local, provincial, and federal officials to attend an emergency meeting to find a plan for Miramichi's future.

Also raising concerns in Miramichi is the fact that Umoe Solar's subsidiary, Fornebu Lumber, has been harvesting lumber on UPM's former Crown wood licenses since early 2009.

"That is something that will be brought up at the meeting; I'm concerned because the wood is being trucked away from here and I think people want to know where it's going," Cormier said. "I'd definitely like to discuss that; there are a few questions I would like to ask."

Last summer, Fornebu Lumber, through its sawmill in Bathurst, was granted permission, along with Fraser Papers, to export logs from Crown land to markets in Maine and Quebec.

Read more:

Miramichi mayor calls for emergency meeting - Gerry Cormier asks politicians to discuss Miramichi economy after Umoe Solar announces end of plant project (New Brunswick Business Journal)