Irving buys Bowater mill and woodlands

J.D. Irving Limited is buying a sawmill and 900 square kilometres of woodland from Bowater.

The company announced Friday that it's buying the land in the upper Miramichi valley, and that it's also buying the Baker Brook sawmill near Edmundston.

The purchase comes amid a downturn in the forest industry.

The company said it bought the woodland to increase its supply of timber.

It said it will continue to operate the sawmillthat employs 87 people under the existing union contract.