A pulp mill on Vancouver Island is shutting its doors permanently and around 350 employees are now out of work.

Domtar, which owns the mill in Crofton, says continued poor pricing for pulp and a lack of access to affordable fibre led to the plant closure.

“The Crofton mill has been challenged for some time now,” said Steve Henry, Domtar paper and packaging president, in a statement.

“Over the last 18 months, Crofton employees worked hard to reduce operational costs and they made some extraordinary gains. Unfortunately, continued poor pricing for pulp and lack of access to affordable fiber in BC necessitate the closure.”

Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar called the closure “gut-wrenching for workers.”

He blamed volatile markets, low pulp prices and U.S. duties and tariffs.

However, Kim

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