Few details about potential deal to save mill in northern Manitoba

WINNIPEG – Premier Brian Pallister won’t discuss details of a potential deal to save the Tolko Industries pulp-and-paper mill in The Pas in northern Manitoba.

Tolko announced last month that it plans to close the mill on Dec. 2 because it is no longer financially viable.

The move would put more than 300 people out of work.

An international company — who no one will name — has sent a letter of intent about possibly buying the mill, subject to several conditions.

Union representative Paul McKie says the deal still has hurdles to overcome but workers have a renewed sense of optimism.

Pallister says he will not release any details until something is firmed up.

“I don’t want to be premature in my comments and I don’t want to raise hopes,” he said Tuesday.

“There are affected people here, directly and indirectly, that deserve better than that, so we’ll wait until we have something to announce.”

Pallister has already said his government is not interested in bailouts or short-term measures to prop up the mill.

McKie, a national representative with Unifor, said the deal on the table is not a bailout.

“There are conditions which the union can control, and which we are looking at … talking to our members about, and then there are other conditions … that are more in control of government bodies, regulators etc.,” McKie said.

“They’re not asking for a handout or a bailout. They are asking for some other relief that can only be granted by a government … and the want a very quick answer from government.”