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EACOM to reopen Ear Falls sawmill

Oct. 17, 2013, Montreal and Vancouver - EACOM plans to reopen the Ear Falls sawmill in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

The Ear Falls sawmill, located 410 km from Winnipeg, closed in December 2009. EACOM acquired the sawmill from Domtar a year later along with the rights to 150 million board feel of stud lumber per year from the Trout Forest. The mill reopening has been dependent on reaching a labour agreement with the union and a steady supply of lumber. Content that these two requirements have been met, the company is confident it will be ready to start the mill back up in 2014.

"Ear Falls requires a long-term, secure and sustainable economic wood supply, and the arrangements that have been confirmed by Minister Orazietti are a significant step in this direction", stated Mr. Doman. "We also wish to thank Unifor, the union at Ear Falls, and leaders Kim Ginter - former CEP Ontario Vice-President, Stephen Boon - Unifor National Representative, and George Smith - Unifor Local 324 President. We also thank Mayor Kevin Kahoot and the Township of Ear Falls for their strong support of our reopening", Mr. Doman added.

EACOM intends to commence timber harvesting and wood purchasing operations in the first quarter of 2014 in order to build a saw log inventory for the sawmill. Refurbishment and improvement of sawmill equipment will commence this fall, as will the securing of key management and operations staff.

"As softwood lumber markets continue to steadily improve, we look forward to the resumption of sawmilling operations at Ear Falls, to the benefit of our customers, employees, suppliers, the community and our owners. Our goal is to create an efficient and profitable operation capable of continuous production during both strong and weak markets, bringing stability to our Company, our employees and the entire Ear Falls region", Mr. Doman concluded.

October 17, 2013  By  Amie Silverwood



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