The fight to save Canadian town threatened by Trump's tariffs

Témiscaming, Quebec, a town that grew up around its paper mill, is facing possible collapse after the mill went idle. Trade talks between Canada and the U. S. failed, President Donald Trump added tariffs, and in early October the American owner, RYAM, began an indefinite "economic shutdown." Most of the 360 workers are now getting partial pay through government tariff relief. Home values have dropped, for-sale signs are appearing, and residents worry that shops and medical staff will follow the mill out. Worker Ronnie Raymond warns the community could become a ghost town, according to BBC.

While Canada's national unemployment rate has held near 6. 5%, the BBC reports that harm is concentrated in sectors hit by tariffs of up to 50%, including steel, autos and forestry products. Union leader Stéphane Lefebvre argues that comparable losses in a big city would draw far more political attention. Mayor Alain Gauthier wants Ottawa to impose its own duties on U. S. board products.

Workers hope to repeat 1973, when staff and managers bought the mill from its then-owner. They want to buy it back from RYAM, which declined to comment, but say they need help from Prime Minister Mark Carney's government or Quebec.

Summarized by PolitiKool from BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at BBC →