On January 22, 2026, Unifor called for more support for local workers after Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper announced it is ending its newsprint operations in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The closure will result in approximately 150 job losses — about one-third of the mill’s workforce — by March 31, 2026.
The company stated the decision was driven by a massive drop in North American demand for newsprint, which fell 18% in 2025. While the newsprint machines will stop running, the facility plans to remain open by focusing on its remaining softwood kraft pulp operations and on generating renewable energy for sale to the grid. The mill has been a major employer in the area since it first opened in 1924.
Union leaders are now pushing the company to find ways to keep as many people employed as possible. They are asking for a mitigation plan that would allow staff from the closing newsprint line to move into open jobs on the pulp side of the mill through retraining and preferential hiring. The union is also seeking voluntary severance or “bridge to retirement” packages for older workers close to retirement to help preserve jobs for younger employees.
The company said it will file official notices with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Ontario) as part of the layoff process; provincial retraining supports and other transition funds are being identified to assist workers who need to find new employment. Local officials noted that while the job losses are a significant blow to the community, the mill’s shift to focus on pulp operations may help protect the roughly 300 jobs that will remain at the site over the long term.
