Well, the inevitable was announced on April 16. Paper Excellence announced it will close the Powell River paper mill at least until August [“Paper mill in Powell River faces curtailment,” April 16].
Of course it is being blamed on the COVID-19 issue, but the mill has been struggling for the past year and a half. Just look back at the curtailments and the closure due to “a computer virus.”
Unfortunately, management continued sending out false promises and continued hiring people from all over the country and province, knowing it was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Even high ranking officials left the operation in anticipation of where this company's destiny would end.
The tragedy is, there were young families enticed here in anticipation of long-term employment, only now to be entrapped in a cesspool of unemployment and uncaring management. I know because I am one of those new employees.
I sold my home and left a higher paying job, enticed by the beauty of the area and false promises of longevity for employment.
Allan Willetts, Duncan Street
Powell River
