Like most property owners across the Province we are in receipt of our 2021 assessments for Irving Pulp & Paper (Saint John), Irving Paper (Saint John), Irving Tissue (Saint John) and Lake Utopia Paper (near St. George). As expected, there were changes at some of our pulp and paper mills reflecting Service New Brunswick’s independent review of the market values. Overall, our assessments went up 15% on average. We cooperated fully with the work of Service New Brunswick (SNB). While we have not yet had time to review our new assessments in detail, we note that the market for pulp and paper mills continues to be a buyers’ market. Paper use in particular is declining as a result of increased digital technology; this is reflected in the number of mills that have idled or closed across North America. Since 2013 demand for our paper products across North America has decreased by 50% and a significant number of mills have been closed.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced that it is notifying customers in the U.S. and Canada of plans to increase net selling prices across a majority of its North America consumer products business. The increases will be implemented almost entirely through changes in list prices and are necessary to help offset significant commodity cost inflation. The percentage increases are in the mid-to-high single digits. Nearly all of the increases will be effective in late June and impact the company's baby and child care, adult care and Scott bathroom tissue businesses.

Drytac, the leading international manufacturer of self-adhesive materials for the large-format print and signage markets, is delighted to announce the appointment of Cathy Radoncic as its new Northeast Territory Manager for the US, with immediate effect. Cathy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Drytac team, having worked in the print industry for more than 35 years across a range of management roles with both manufacturers and suppliers. In this management role of Northeast Territory Manager, Cathy will be responsible for Drytac’s operations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.