What Price paper?

Canadian Dimension, May-June 1994

From Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Daywalker. "What Price paper?" Canadian Dimension, May-June 1994, p. 33+. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context,

Key
Red - claim
Orange - evidence
Yellow - stats
Green - Any quotes
Notes - Paper production is harmful to the environment. It can cause pollution
and can cause smoke. It pollutes land and water. And paper mills cost a lot of
money to create.
If humans are to find peace on this earth they must seek peace among
themselves and examine their relationship with all life. The Anishinabe people
of Sagkeeng (mouth of the river) have been relocated, expropriated,
exploitated, discriminated against, impoverished and isolated in order to
accommodate industries wreaking havoc on all life in the region. From hydro
development to pulp and paper manufacturing, industrial activities have
polluted the air, land and water, and the effects will be seen for many
generations to come.
Since time immemorial the Ojibway people of Sagkeeng have occupied and
cared for the region; offering respect to their ancestors and caring dutifully
for those yet to be born. Primarily a hunting and gathering agrarian society
with highly developed systems of trade, commerce and governance over
local and territorial affairs, the Ojibway Nation flourished. Our original
concepts and philosophy of life were challenged and overrun by a new
outlook that came with LaVerendrye and company, in approximately 1769.
Our visitors fled famine, religious persecution, war and pestilence to find
refuge in this rich, new land. In their view they had found an abundance of
riches to be claimed, exploited and taken by force. In short order, life
changed in the region. Some of the original inhabitants were recruited to
participate in an economy based on resource extraction rather than their
traditional independent communal living. Although met with considerable
resistance, little, if any, of the native world view and practices were
incorporated or considered in the new world. Anishinabe religious practices
were prohibited, forcing native spirituality underground and deepening
resentment between native and non-native peoples.
Today the impact of short-term gain and limited long-term vision has had a
considerable effect upon human and other life in the area. Industrial activity
has had disastrous effect on the forests, rivers and on the air quality formerly
enjoyed by all the people residing in the Ojibway Nation's territory. The
spiritual, mental and physical well-being of human and other life forms have

been severely disrupted, leaving both visible and emotional scars.

Labour and industry should be measured by its contribution to all people and
its ability to thrive and exist in harmony with all life. When the destruction
from industry affects the birds, plants, fish and the animals, then we must
seriously question its effects on future generations. In a society where life is
sacrificed for industrial purposes and humans allow technology to dictate
their future and their choices, we must question whether or not humans are
in control of their own destiny.
Such is the case with Abitibi-Price's paper mill, located on property
expropriated from the Anishinabe people at Sagkeeng. The people of
Sagkeeng, whose ancestors signed Treaty Number 1 in 1871, were ensured
that they and those not yet born would not be molested. In 1926, with the
introduction of pulp and paper production, a new form of genocide came to
the original inhabitants of the region.
Located 150 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, Pine Falls, Minitoba was
erected almost overnight. Lured by promises of eternal prosperity, young and
old from numerous nationalities came to Pine Falls. The industrial town relied
on Anishinabe labour and land to construct the buildings required for its
illusion of a better life.
Quickly after the mill town was formed, unofficial boundaries were enforced
to keep the original inhabitants from establishing residence and from
exercising their inherent right to the land (governance, hunting, fishing and
trapping). Mill guidelines and education requirements diminished any hope of
meaningful employment for the people of Sagkeeng. Pine Falls residents'
incomes increased substantially as the neighbouring people of Sagkeeng
entered a dark period of history. Adding insult to injury, the plight of the
Anishinabe was deliberately ignored.
For the sake of progress, human and natural resources were extensively
exploited for profit. Untreated wood fibre and toxic waste were poured
directly into the mighty Winnipeg River, contaminating a fundamental source
on which all life depends. Trees in their once majestic surroundings that could
tell stories of fifteen human generations have either been reduced to
newsprint or destined for clear-cut. These practices displaced many hunters,
trappers and fishermen who relied on natural elements to provide the
sustainable existence enjoyed by their ancestors. Winds from the four
directions scatter the residue from billowing smoke stacks. These toxic
plumes can be seen and inhaled for miles. The mill's waste and destruction is
evident over the land, in the water and in the air.
How do we measure progress? Do we embrace the lessons all life forms can
teach, giving us the strength and courage to honour our commitments to
ensure a healthy environment for future generations? Or do we knowingly
allow destructive practices and people to dictate a questionable future?
The mill was in full operation without a license to operate in violation of
federal and provincial environmental regulations as of December 31, 1993.
Federal and provincial agencies theoretically are designed to ensure that the
best interests of individuals and the environment are defended. The mill at
Pine Falls demonstrates the practice of environmental policies. It highlights
the government's willingness to allow industrial complexes to violate public
interests.

Abitibi-Price had applied for a transitional authorization (TA) to continue

dumping untreated effluent into the Winnipeg River on the condition that
they undertake the installation of the necessary treatment facilities before
December 31, 1993. Without bringing the mill into compliance, they
requested a further extension of the TA. The application for the extension is
little more than a smokescreen behind which Abitibi can continue operation of
the mill. They are on record as stating that they have no intention of
installing any treatment facilities.
Since the 1970s the pulp and paper industry has been competing itself to
death. The sale price of pulp in no way reflects the cost of production. As a
result, the industry has been squeezing formerly profitable installations in
order to construct new, more efficient mills rather than upgrading existing
facilities. Moreover, governments have assumed responsibility for the
regeneration of the devastated forests, allowing the industry to shed this cost
onto the taxpayer.
The question is whether or not the earth can sustain an industry that
continues to harm humans and rape mother nature for profitable resale. This
is why the people of Sagkeeng must take leadership in denouncing the
industry and the individuals who deny any responsibility for the harm that
they have caused. It is the hope of the Anishinabe people that their plight is
understood so that we will have an opportunity to co-exist and make choices
to ensure a healthier future for all.
To save their jobs, workers at Abitibi-Price's Pine Falls mill are being asked to
take a ten per cent wage cut that would extend for a full five years. this part
of a complicated buyt-out scheme that would see approximately 500 workers,
mainly members of the United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU), put
up most of the investment, while ending up with very little control of a
restructured operation.
The mill has been a steady money-maker, but Abitibi-Price refuses to invest in
effluent treatment and recycling plants as required by federal regulations.
Instead, it has arranged to sell the opertion at an inflated price of $53 million
to a management group. The management group, headed by Mr. Fern Pitre, is
putting up $250,000. Pitre would be named CEO of the new company and
occupy one seat on the nine-seat board of directors.
A second seat would belong to Ashok Narang, a Montreal investor who has
agreed to put up $1.3 million, in return for which he would also receive an
annual $300,000 in consulting fees.
The government of Manitoba has agreed to loan the new company $30
million to pay for the new effluent treatment and recycling plants. Besides
putting up an estimated $10-$11 million a year in forgone wages and
benefits, union members must also agree to a further ten per cent wage cut
if, after five years, the new company is unable to fully pay off the government
loan!
In exchange for what is by the far the largest single financial contribution, the
union would obtain 40 per cent of the common stock, but only one seat on
the board of directors! If and when the provincial government eases out, it
would also take over one of its three seats.
Meanwhile, Abitibi-Price insists on receiving $40 million in preferred shares of
the new company.

Union members vote this June to accept or reject these terms. A few months
ago UPIU members voted out their president, Chris Christenson, who
persistently raised questions about the deal. Richard Papineau, another
defeated executive member, had also been working with the Sagkeeng
community which had its own reservations about the buy-out.
Workers in this small company town, are so anxious about their jobs that until
now most have been deaf to criticisms of the deal.
But Christenson and Papineau are challenging the provincial government and
their own international union for incompetence. "The membership may vote
the deal down," Christenson told CD. "It's a scam. Abitibi refused to consider
any other buyer except Fern Pitre and the management group. The union
offered to go partners with Abitibi, but they showed no interest. We think that
after the new treatment and recycling plants are built and paid for with our
foregone wages, Abitibi-Price could well buy the company back. That's
probably what Pitre and Ashok Narang are counting on."
Sagkeeng has been offered a seat on the new company's board of directors,
but so far has refused.
Since going to press with this article a few events have occurred at the Pulp
and Paper Mill in Pine Falls, Manitoba. In late March a chemical spill released a
ton of Buzan-52 into the Winnipeg River, just upstream from Sagkeeng First
Nation. The toxic spill was not reported until three days later - a clear
violation of the Pulp and Paper Effluent Act. As a result, the community of
Sagkeeng took to the streets in protest, both in the town of Pine Falls and at
the Legislative Building in Winnipeg. These actions drew national media
attention to the problems the community has experienced because of the mill
at Pine Falls for many years. Charges are pending against Abitibi-Price as a
result of the spill and the community of Sakeeng has issued a public
statement regarding the continued operation of the Pine Falls mill. The
position of the Sakeeng First Nation is that the Pulp and Paper Mill, owned and
operated by Abitibi-Price in the town of Pine Falls, Manitoba, be permanently
closed. Should the mill be allowed to continue to operate, the following
conditions must be imposed:
* The government of Canada and Abitibi-Price must complete an
environmental audit of all aspects of the operation of the mill and its effects
on the local environment. Both the immediate and the long term
environmental impact must be assessed.
* Abitibi-Price must immediately begin upgrading mill operations to meet
current environmental standards. Where possible, future proposed standards
must he considered when undertaking the upgrade and implemented with a
target of zero discharge of effluent.
* An Environmental Review Committee (ERC) must be formed to review and
oversee the continued operation of the mill.
* The environmental audit and the continued operation of the mill must be
conducted under the supervision and review of the ERC.
The Assembly of First Nations has received 25 million dollars over six years to
monitor water quality in 600 Aboriginal communities. The Pine Falls Pulp and
Paper Mill received 30 million dollars this year alone, from the two senior
levels of government, to continue its operation.

Abstract
A paper mill built on land inhabited by the Ojibway people in Sagkeeng,
Manitoba, is destroying the environment and lives of the native people. It
illegally dumps waste in the river, exploits Ojibway for labor and has
destroyed trees, plants and animals in the region.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 1994 Canadian Dimension Publication, Ltd.
Source Citation
Daywalker. "What Price paper?" Canadian Dimension, May-June 1994, p.
33+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
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