The forestry industry in Ottawa's regional backyard is facing a new chapter of uncertainty, as Domtar — one of Canada's largest pulp and paper companies — says it is open to selling the Maniwaki, Que., sawmill that has been trapped in a frustrating cycle of temporary closures and partial reopenings since the end of 2024.
For the more than 100 workers at the facility, it's the latest twist in what has become an exhausting saga.
A Pattern of Stop-and-Start Closures
The Maniwaki sawmill is located in the Outaouais region of Quebec, roughly two hours north of Ottawa. In communities like Maniwaki, a mill isn't just a workplace — it's an anchor for the local economy, supporting families, small businesses, and services that depend on workers having reliable income.
Since late 2024, Domtar has been temporarily closing and then reopening the facility repeatedly, leaving more than 100 employees in an uncomfortable holding pattern. Each restart offers a brief reprieve before the next shutdown arrives, creating a boom-and-bust rhythm that's genuinely hard on workers trying to plan their finances and their futures. That kind of prolonged uncertainty takes a toll — on household budgets, on morale, and on the community's sense of stability.
Is a Sale the Answer?
Domtar's statement that it is open to selling the mill is a significant signal. It suggests the company no longer sees a clear long-term future for its own involvement at the site — but it also opens the door for a buyer who might.
If the right purchaser steps forward, a sale could mean stable, sustained operations and real job security for workers who have been weathering this uncertainty for months. A committed new owner with a solid business plan for the mill could change the story considerably.
But there are no guarantees. Finding a buyer takes time, and even a successful sale comes with its own risks and unknowns. Workers and their representatives will be watching every development carefully as the situation unfolds.
Why Ottawa Should Care
This story matters well beyond Maniwaki's borders. The Outaouais region — stretching from Gatineau north toward Maniwaki and beyond — is deeply intertwined with Ottawa, both economically and socially. Countless Ottawa-area residents have family ties, weekend connections, and professional relationships across the Ottawa River.
When a major employer in the region faces this kind of prolonged uncertainty, the effects ripple outward into surrounding communities. The health of rural Outaouais is, in many ways, part of the broader Ottawa regional picture.
No timeline has been announced for any potential sale. The more than 100 employees and the wider Maniwaki community continue to wait.
Source: CBC Ottawa
