Robin Wilber, the president of Elmsdale Lumber, has been cut from the Nova Scotia government's forestry transition team just days after he was appointed.
Speaking on the Rick Howe show this morning, Jan. 7, Wilber said he was fired for wanting to talk about the possibility of a hot idle for Northern Pulp.
“Last night I got a call and they fired me,” Wilber told Howe.
“They don’t want to have any discussions about Northern Pulp.”
Jan. 3, Wilber told Saltwire that he believed the province should work with Northern Pulp to allow them to hot idle the plant. This would require running water through the plant’s boilers to keep the facility in working order.
The province confirmed Wilber’s removal with an announcement early afternoon, Jan. 7.
“The forestry transition team was formed to collaborate on ways to support the forestry sector and the workers and businesses connected to the industry. This is not a table to discuss the future of Northern Pulp. That is the company's issue,” stated Kelliann Dean, deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, and forestry transition team lead in a release.
“Robin Wilber is focused on options for Northern Pulp,” she wrote. “That is not part of the transition team's mandate therefore he is no longer part of the transition team."
Dean said that Wilber is still welcome to share ideas with the transition team members on support for businesses and workers, and moving the industry forward.
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