A $50-million expansion is in the works for Alberta's only paper mill
Alberta’s first and only paper mill may soon see a major expansion, with a proposed $50-million project in the works.
Last month, the Province announced it would invest $1.5 million through the Investment and Growth Fund to help secure the nearly $ 50-million expansion of Whitecourt Newsprint Company Ltd., which operates as Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC).
The project will modernize the company’s Whitecourt facility, which opened in the summer of 1990, enabling it to produce multiple grades of paper. It currently produces newsprint, book papers, and high bright papers, according to its website.
The expansion will create 13 permanent full-time jobs and 25 temporary construction jobs while helping retain more than 220 existing positions. It will also allow the company to manufacture higher-value products and compete in evolving markets.
Alberta Newsprint Company
“I know firsthand the important role this paper mill plays in Whitecourt and Alberta’s forestry sector. This expansion helps secure good local jobs, supports long-term growth, and ensures the company remains competitive for years to come,” said Martin Long, MLA for West Yellowhead, in a news release.
The ANC is a joint venture of The Stern Group (Whitecourt Newsprint Company Limited Partnership) and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
No timeline was given for when construction on the project could begin or when it was estimated to be completed.
Alberta’s government committed almost $28 million in the 2026 budget towards the Investment and Growth Fund.