When the news came in late 2025 that the Crofton pulp mill — a cornerstone of the Vancouver Island forestry economy for generations — would be permanently closed by Domtar, it was not just jobs that were lost, but a way of life for hundreds of hardworking families across the Cowichan Valley and beyond. More than 350 workers suddenly faced uncertainty and hardship as an industry they had poured their skills and sweat into since day one disappeared.
In these moments of upheaval, leadership matters. And for PPWC (Public and Private Workers of Canada) members at Crofton and throughout Canada’s forest sector, Member of Parliament Gord Johns has shown up — with conviction, compassion, and forceful advocacy. In the recent video below, Johns is calling on the federal government to take action and ensure that those workers in Crofton are supported – just like workers in the steel sector, auto sector and others have been.
“Forestry workers are not being treated equally… This government needs to step up,” says Johns. “We’ve been calling on the federal government to make sure that ALL workers that are impacted by tariffs are getting the support they need.”
Gord has called for EI enhancements that go above and beyond the status quo: boosting the EI replacement rate toward 80%, extending benefit duration to 104 weeks, waiving waiting periods and claw-back of severance, and creating bridge-to-retirement provisions for older workers. He’s also pressed for meaningful retraining opportunities — not cookie-cutter programs — but retraining that genuinely equips pulp workers with in-demand skills in forestry, clean energy, manufacturing, and other growing sectors.
For too long, Canada’s pulp and forestry workers have done the heavy lifting that keeps our economy and communities strong — ensuring good, family-supporting jobs in small towns and rural regions. The closure of a mill like Crofton is more than a job loss; it is a social and economic shock that demands a federal response with urgency and fairness.
Ottawa must follow through on the supports these workers were promised. EI extensions, robust retraining programs, and a just transition aren’t just good policy, they’re the right thing to do for the families and communities that have built our forest sector.
