Help has arrived for the Bowater Mersey paper mill in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, which announced that it is struggling financially earlier this month.
The Region of Queens Municipality has approved an agreement that will give the paper mill a moderate tax break of roughly $135,000 annually over ten years.
The agreement comes a day after employees voted 51.7 per cent in favour of contract concessions that will cut 110 jobs at the mill in an effort to try to keep it operating.
"Employees of the mill were forced to make one of the toughest decisions of their lives," said Premier Darrell Dexter in a statement released Thursday. "I want the employees and their families to know that the province appreciates how difficult a decision this was for them and that we will do all we can to support them as we work together to map out next steps."
Dexter says more than 2,000 families in Liverpool and surrounding communities depend on the mill for their livelihood, and the provincial government is in discussion with Bowater on a possible assistance package.
"When I came to Liverpool a few weeks ago, I said that there was a lot of work to do in order to save the mill," said Premier Dexter. "While the workers have done their part and the province is committed to doing the same, all parties must continue to work with one another, side by side, to make the tough choices and decisions now that will see a successful mill operating in Liverpool for years to come."
Dexter says he is travelling to the mill today to show support for the workers, local management and municipal officials.
