Municipality of Queens Extend Olive Branch to Bowater Paper Mill

The Region of Queens Municipality has given the green light on a 10 year tax freeze for Bowater Mersey. The municipality voted on the deal this morning at a special meeting, which means a savings of approximately $135,000 annually at the mill. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor John Leefe says the municipality is simply trying to do its part to try and keep the mill open. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Lunenburg is expected to follow suit this week. They're set to sit down with Bowater executives later this afternoon. On Wednesday night union locals 141 and 259 voted to accept contract concessions, meaning 110 workers will be out of a job. The vote was 104-97 in favour of accepting concessions. Negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement are expected to begin in the near future. Meanwhile, Premier Darrell Dexter will be in Liverpool at 3pm today to address the current situation at the Mill. CKBW/HANK FM News will have more on this developing story.