Last Wednesday Kitimat was shocked to discover that West Fraser would be closing the doors to Eurocan Pulp and Paper, second only to Alcan in employee size and length of time in business.

Kitimatians were devastated to hear this news, most at a loss for words, wondering now what the future may hold, not just for themselves, but for the Eurocan employees and their families.

The widespread impact of the permanent closure of Eurocan will be destructive not only to our community but to the Northwest region.

We are at risk of losing services at our hospital, additional school closures, business closures and of course the most devastating, losing a large number of the people in our community.

If ever there was a time for the community to band together this is it!

The Eurocan employees and their families need our support.

The businesses, community programs and social networks need our support.

The Kitimat Chamber of Commerce will use our provincial and federal networking with the BC and Canadian Chamber’s of Commerce to lobby all levels of government.

We will work with our local mayor and council, MLA and MP towards achieving transition funding for the people impacted by this closure. We need to gain funding so people can be trained and educated for new jobs and industries.

We will work with District of Kitimat and Rio Tinto’s Regional Industrial Development group along with any other economic development groups to help alleviate some of the jobs lost by the mill closure.

And our first action is to step out and fully support any and all economic or industrial development proposals planned for this area.

Whether it is KLNG, Sandhill Materials Inc, Kitimat Modernization Project, Break Bulk Port Development or Enbridge we want you, we need you and we support you to do business in Kitimat.

We understand that some of these projects are environmentally sensitive and concerns exist. Let’s take our efforts to form productive sustainability to grow our community.

Today, and every day, we all have a responsibility. We have a responsibility to maintain Kitimat as we know it and to do our best to improve it.

We must work together to find solutions. We have huge challenges before us and the only way we will become successful is if we work together to create jobs, stability and sustenance for Kitimat.

Tony Brady,

President,

Kitimat Chamber of Commerce.