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- calendar_today October 29, 2026
AV Group Lists Timberland Amid Nackawic Mill Idling
AV Group has put up more than 106,000 acres of timberland for sale in western New Brunswick, just days before its Nackawic mill is set to go idle. The listing, handled by Boston-based real estate broker LandVest, includes timberland stretching between the Canada-U.S. border and Highway 3. The provincial government of New Brunswick has confirmed it is among the bidders vying for the property.
Provincial Government Places Bid for Timberland
According to Natural Resources Minister John Herron, the timberland in question is directly associated with the Nackawic pulp mill. Herron emphasized the importance of keeping the land linked to the local "wood basket" to ensure sufficient fibre supply for a future solution in the region. While the province’s bid amount remains confidential under a non-disclosure agreement, Herron stated, "It is vital that that land continues to be associated with the wood basket to ensure that there's sufficient fibre to have a solution for that Nackawic region." Bids for the timberland are due December 17.
Impact on Mill Employees and Local Forestry
The sale comes as AV Group prepares to idle the Nackawic mill at the end of October, a move announced in September that will affect approximately 350 workers. Grant Charlton, president of Unifor Local 219 representing the mill's employees, described the land sale as discouraging. "They call it a temporary idling, but if you're selling off your assets like woodland, that doesn't really signal to us that it's temporary," Charlton remarked. Layoffs are expected to begin next week as staff finish cleaning and shutting down the facility.
Concerns Over Timberland Ownership and Mill’s Future
Stakeholders like Progressive Conservative MLA Kris Austin have also voiced concerns about the potential consequences if a private entity acquires the land. Austin supports the provincial bid, warning, "What happens if someone buys that privately and decides to do nothing with it? Then that's a lot of wood that can't have value added to our forestry sector in New Brunswick." Charlton added that keeping the timberland tied to the mill could serve as a selling point for future buyers and help preserve jobs and local economic activity.
Mill Idle Raises Questions of Facility Management
Further concerns were raised in the legislature by Richard Ames, PC MLA for Carleton-York, about the possibility that the mill may go without heat during the winter, risking damage to its infrastructure. Herron noted that the province does not own the mill and decisions about its state are not in government hands. However, he mentioned that an environmental impact assessment might be triggered if the facility is not kept warm, potentially leading to added costs for AV Group. Herron described the facility’s current state as needing significant repair, highlighting maintenance issues by referencing equipment reportedly being held together with duct tape.
Next Steps and Ongoing Developments
The province is currently analyzing both the Nackawic and Atholville mills to assess their state and prospects, with expectations for more information before the end of the year. As the timberland sale progresses and the Nackawic mill idles, the transaction and its implications remain a focal point for New Brunswick’s forestry sector and affected employees.
Source: cbc.ca.
