Tariff-Battered Quebec Mill Town Pushes Worker Buyback
BBC News reports RYAM idled its Témiscaming, Quebec paper mill indefinitely in early October 2026, after US duties hit Canadian wood and paper exports.
The story in focus
BBC News reports that the RYAM-owned paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, was idled indefinitely in early October 2026 after US-Canada trade talks broke down and Washington imposed 50% duties on some C$28bn of Canadian goods. About 360 workers are affected, and locals seek government backing for a worker-led buyback.
- RYAM began an economic shutdown of the mill for an indefinite period in early October 2026.
- The mill employs about 360 people and sends roughly 75% of its paperboard output to the US.
- In August 2026 the US imposed 50% duties on some C$28bn of Canadian goods, including wood and paper products.
- Canada responded with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs.
- Workers want Ottawa and Quebec to back a buyback, echoing a 1973 employee purchase that created Tembec.
Mill idled after trade talks collapse
BBC News reports that the RYAM-owned paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, was shut down for an indefinite period in early October 2026 after trade talks between Canada and the US broke down. Most of its roughly 360 employees are out of work, sustained for now by partial pay from government tariff relief.
Témiscaming was built around the mill and the surrounding pine, birch, spruce and fir forests. The plant produces paperboard for frozen-food packaging and scratch-off lottery tickets, and BBC News reports that about 75% of its output went to the US. Local property values fell quickly, and homes have been listed for sale.
Tariffs and a buyback bid
In August 2026, after the talks failed, the US imposed 50% duties on some C$28bn of Canadian goods, including wood and paper products such as pulp, stationery and boxes. Canada answered with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs. Mayor Alain Gauthier told BBC News he does not blame RYAM and wants Ottawa to tax US board products entering Canada.
Workers are seeking federal and provincial support for a worker-led purchase of the plant, an effort compared to 1973, when employees and managers bought the mill and formed Tembec. Union leader Stéphane Lefebvre told BBC News the group cannot proceed without significant help from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Quebec government. RYAM declined to comment to BBC News on a possible sale or prospective buyers.
Government response
A spokesperson for Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told BBC News that C$400m has been made available to support the forestry sector in rural and remote areas, and that the government is working with all parties on a viable solution. BBC News reports that Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced nearly C$9bn for Ontario's steel and auto sectors, while Bloc Québécois MP Sébastien Lemire said he is worried about inaction on forestry.
What led to the indefinite idling of the Témiscaming paper mill?
BBC News reports that US-Canada trade talks broke down and the US imposed 50% duties in August 2026 on some C$28bn of Canadian goods, including wood and paper products. RYAM idled the mill indefinitely in early October 2026.
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