Mill restart leads to closure of area job action centre

The closure of an employment-assistance centre in Terrace Bay isn’t a bad news story.

The Terrace Bay – Schreiber Action Centre is shutting down its operations, which is a response to the restart of the pulp mill in that area. The mill’s restart means that about 340 employees will be recalled.

The job centre’s co-ordinator Don McArthur said the restart of Terrace Bay Pulp at the end of September meant most area residents using the centre no longer required the service. McArthur added that of about 500 people tracked through the centre, only 55 left the area to find employment.

The mill's restart has led to a dramatic drop in the centre’s active cases.

Action centres are designed to help residents of communities hit hard by layoffs. McArthur said people looking for assistance in finding employment beyond the end of the month will now be able to access the Northwest Employment Works Service.

Northwest Works Services will be available in Schreiber on Wednesdays at the Municipal Complex and Thursdays in Terrace Bay at the Superior North Community Futures Development Corporation. A permanent Northwest Employment Works office has opened in Marathon's Service Ontario Centre, to replace the Marathon Action Centre that recently closed its operations.