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The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is expressing concern following Rayonier Advanced Materials’ (RYAM) announcement that it intends to temporarily shut down its industrial complex in Témiscaming, Quebec, on September 15.
The shutdown is expected to affect about 400 unionized workers, many with specialized skills and extensive experience in the forestry sector, as well as managers, contractors, suppliers, and other businesses that depend on the facility. A prolonged shutdown could result in the loss of this skilled workforce and have lasting consequences for the forestry industry throughout the region.
Although Témiscaming is located in Quebec, the community and the RYAM facility have strong economic connections to Northeastern Ontario. The effects of a major industrial shutdown do not stop at a provincial boundary, particularly when specialized workers, suppliers and forestry operations are connected across the region.
“FONOM is deeply concerned for the workers facing uncertainty, their families and the entire community of Témiscaming,” said FONOM President David Plourde. “These are highly skilled workers whose knowledge and experience are important to the forestry industry. We are also thinking about the contractors, suppliers, transportation companies and businesses throughout the region, including those in Ontario, that depend on this facility. A prolonged shutdown could have lasting consequences for the region’s forestry sector.”
RYAM has stated that the business environment surrounding the facility has become unsustainable. The company cited the magnitude of U.S. tariffs, together with long-standing challenges facing the pulp and paper sector, as reasons continued operations are no longer
economically viable.
“This announcement demonstrates the real consequences of unfair U.S. tariffs,” Plourde said. “Tariffs do not only affect corporate balance sheets. They affect workers, families, local businesses and the long-term future of forestry-dependent communities.”
FONOM recognizes that the forestry sector was already facing significant market pressures before the latest tariff measures. The combination of tariffs, changing markets, operating costs and ongoing uncertainty is placing additional pressure on facilities and communities across Northern Ontario and neighbouring regions.
FONOM is encouraging the governments of Canada and Quebec to work urgently with RYAM, Unifor, the Town of Témiscaming and regional partners to identify solutions that could allow operations to resume.
Federal programs, including regional economic development and tariff-related business and worker supports, will be important to the response. FONOM also encourages the governments of Canada and Ontario to ensure programs delivered through FedNor, the
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and other agencies are available to assist affected suppliers, businesses and communities on the Ontario side of the border.
“There are many programs offered by both governments, but they must be coordinated, accessible and delivered quickly,” Plourde said. “The priority must be supporting affected workers and businesses while doing everything possible to prevent a temporary shutdown
from becoming permanent.”
FONOM continues to support a strong Team Canada response to U.S. tariffs, including assistance for affected industries, expanded domestic supply chains, new international markets and procurement policies that give priority to Canadian workers, resources and
manufactured products.
“The forestry industry remains essential to Northern communities and to the Canadian economy,” Plourde concluded. “Governments, industry, labour and communities must work together to protect these jobs and preserve the future of this facility.”
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