Alberta puts $1.5M into Whitecourt newsprint mill's $50M expansion
The funding, drawn from the province's Investment and Growth Fund, targets the only newsprint mill operating in Alberta.
Why it matters
The investment supports Alberta's only newsprint mill and hundreds of forestry-sector jobs in a rural community.
The Government of Alberta is contributing $1.5 million toward a $50 million expansion of Whitecourt Newsprint Company Ltd., which operates as Alberta Newsprint Company. The money comes from the province's Investment and Growth Fund, a program designed to draw private investment, create jobs and support rural communities.
Officials say the expansion will modernize the Whitecourt facility, allowing it to produce multiple grades of paper. The project is expected to create 13 permanent full-time jobs and 25 temporary construction jobs, while retaining more than 220 existing positions at the mill.
West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long said the mill plays an important role in Whitecourt and Alberta's broader forestry sector, adding the expansion will help secure local jobs and keep the company competitive. Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said the investment will strengthen the province's forestry industry.
The government notes that Alberta Newsprint Company is the only newsprint mill in Alberta, making it a key link in the province's forestry supply chain by converting wood fibre into paper products.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.