The Nova Scotia government is considering whether to participate in the sale of Northern Pulp’s assets as part of ongoing creditor protection proceedings.
The assets include timberlands and a tree nursery linked to the shuttered Pictou County pulp mill.
A British Columbia court approved the sale process earlier this summer, aiming to settle outstanding debts. While court documents mention the possibility of negotiations for Crown land leases managed by the company, provincial officials have clarified that the leases are not part of the auction.
The province faces additional challenges with cleanup costs at the Abercrombie Point mill site, which is heavily contaminated. Although proceeds from the sale are supposed to include $15 million toward remediation, the amount available remains uncertain. The government is also balancing the need to sustain the forestry sector while addressing conservation targets and land protection goals.
About Northern Pulp
Northern Pulp, formerly operating a kraft pulp mill in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, was a key supplier of bleached softwood kraft pulp. The mill ceased operations in 2020 following the closure of its effluent treatment facility at Boat Harbour. The company, owned by Paper Excellence, has since been under creditor protection while its assets, including timberlands and a nursery, are being sold.
