The St.-Leonard, Quebec company said in February that it planned to start up the mill this fall and be in production by the spring of 2013.
Jean-Guy Comeau told the Miramichi Leader that Arbec believes the American housing market will pick up next year and that will significantly increase waferboard sales.
The president of the Northumberland County Forest Products Marketing Board said Arbec has ”’shown courage’” to make a commitment when the industry is slumping. He estimated that along with over 100 direct mill jobs, upwards to 400 would be employed cutting, yarding and trucking wood.
While Arbec has 277,802 cubic metres in Crown wood allocations, over half its supply will come from private woodlot owners like those in the Northumberland County, the North Shore and the Southeast New Brunswick Forest Products Marketing Boards.
”’When you have people sitting at the table saying they’re willing to give it all they can to make this a success, that’s positive,’” Comeau told the Miramichi Leader
”’We’ll be working on a weekly basis to make things workable for all parties—this is the beginning of the restructuring of the forest sector, and it’s a darn good start.”’
