Tom Tarpey thinks a local company can play an important role in the region’s economic recovery.
Peace River’s mayor penned a letter to Premier Jason Kenney in which he talks about his employer, Mercer Peace River having a shovel-ready project.
The Mercer facility is within the boundaries of the County of Northern Lights but employs several people living in Peace River.
In the letter, Tarpey explains the project proposal.
“The solution revolves around the installation of a new wood processing facility – it can be justifiably described as transformational technology. Each aspect of the project is technologically proven, with reference sites available globally; however, the combination of these technologies represents a novel, first-of-its-kind implementation.”
Tarpey says the estimated cost would be $69.9 million and adds that the main product of Mercer is aspen pulp, which is used to make certain types of paper, as well as hygiene products.
Towards the end of the letter, he explains to Kenney how this project would benefit our region directly.
“As Mayor of Peace River, the home community for MPR, I see the above project meeting a number of local economic needs:
- In the short term, the construction of the new facility – work that can be done with local and regional skills and equipment in the summer of 2021 – will generate 50 direct construction jobs and will serve as a much needed economic stimulus boost to get Peace River out of the current C19 recession.
- In the intermediate term, the project will be critical in making MPR competitive internationally, and in so doing keep its doors open and ensure more than a 1,000 direct and indirect jobs remain in the Peace Country of Alberta.
- In the long-term, I see MPR using this project as a springboard for further investment into value-added timber products, such as a state-of-the-art sawmill, located directly adjacent to the pulp mill. Certainly, a substantial investment in value-added timber products will be very welcomed by the Town of Peace River and surrounding region.”
Kenney responded on January 13 and said that the letter would be forwarded to Agriculture and Forestry Minister Davin Dreeshen for consideration.
The Trending 55 Newsroom asked Tarpey if he is optimistic that the government would fund this project, and he says he is.
“I know that the Premier and his government are very interested in a quick bounce-back after we deal with Covid and this can be part of the puzzle,” says Tarpey.
“They do realize that they need to reduce their carbon footprint as a province and this can be one of those opportunities.”
While the province likes to invest in what it calls shovel-ready projects, Tarpey tells us this is as ready as any initiative can be.
You can see a copy of Tarpey’s letter to Kenney here.
You can see Kenney’s response here.
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
