Rural economic development supports needed for Pictou County and beyond

Pictou– The people of Pictou County have been left with little support after damage from Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and the closure of the Northern Pulp Mill in 2020. Earlier this month Premier Houston said he believes Northern Pulp will never reopen but didn’t offer any plan to replace the jobs and opportunities lost when the mill closed.

“We’re hearing from people in the forestry sector and the surrounding community that there is still years’ worth of cleanup left from Fiona and the capacity to do that work has declined with the closure of the mill,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “Funds were set aside to help create opportunities but people in Pictou County are telling us that not enough of that money was directed at people on the ground who want to build up their businesses and build their lives in the area.”

As of November 2023, $38.4 million of the $50 million Forestry Innovation Transition Trust has been committed. It remains open for applications until March 31, 2025, or until funds have been spent.

"I know a lot of jobs were lost because of the mill and I think it’s really important that the provincial government has a rural economic development plan that helps create new green jobs,” said NSNDP Pictou West candidate Melinda MacKenzie. "We want to make sure there is work for people to live and stay in Pictou West that creates healthy communities and values our environmental resources.”

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