Some NewPage workers to head back to work Monday

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Pacific West Commercial Corporation said 140 former employees of the former NewPage papermill in Port Hawkesbury will be on the site Monday, preparing the mill for an eventual restart.

There is still one more hurdle to clear before the deal is complete. Pacific West is awaiting a ruling from Revenue Canada later this month on an advanced tax ruling sought by Pacific West and Nova Scotia Power.

In Friday's statement, Pacific West said after the mill purchase is finalized later this month, all 330 employees will be recalled to work.

In the meantime, forestry contractors who supply the mill and many of their 450 employees are already producing wood for the restart.

Pacific West said full-scale forestry operations are expected to begin by early October.

It also said Port Hawkesbury Paper will be recruiting for positions in the coming weeks.