Nearly 200 sawmill workers in Hornepayne, Ont., received layoff notice Monday.
Officials with the Olav Haavaldsrud Timber Company say the shutdown will last three weeks while it negotiates with the province on a power purchase agreement for its co-generation plant.
But many in the community are worried the temporary shutdown may end up being permanent.
Hornepayne is located on the CN Rail line between White River and Hearst. The Haavaldsrud sawmill is the second largest employer in the town of around 1,000.
The sawmill's owner says it won't re-open the mill, if the negotiations for selling power from the co-gen plant are not successful.
Ministers from the Wynne Government were taken to task by the opposition at Queen's Park today.
Hornepayne Mayor Morley Forster says the impact of a permanent shutdown would be devastating. He adds that the town simply can't afford to have that many people out of work.
(TBT News)
