Mill to reopen

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The re-opening of a mill in Chatham could be the beginning of a new investment plan for the Miamichi region, says the chairman of the Micmac-Maliseet Development Corporation.

Chief Roger Augustine, of the Eel Ground Indian Band, announced the company's intention of buying 34 per cent of a new $60 million oriented strand board plant to be built at former Norboard plant in Chatham.

The Micmac-Maliseet Development Corporation has sunk $9 million into the new company, approximately 53 per cent of the total initial investment of $17 million. Three other investors include Chatham Forest Products owner John Godfrey, who holds 25 per cent of the shares, and two lumber companies.

Final negotiations between the investors are expected to culminate in an agreement September 1, and construction on the plant should proceed immediately after. The mill, 13 km north of Eel Ground, is expected to be running by the end of 1994 or early 1995.

The majority of the timber culled for the plant will be harvested from an 32,000 hectare area of Crown land in Kent County, south of the mill.

Dividends on the plants' profits will be paid equally to the shareholders. In the case of the Micmac-Maliseet Development Corporation, dividends would be paid to the 15 bands forming the corporation.

And the bands closest to the mill will benefit directly from its reopening, predicted Stewart.

"There will be 100 jobs opened in the mill, and 20 in management. There will also be 100 to 200 jobs related to the mill opening," he said.

A training program for Native applicants is planned.