Northern Nova Scotia·NewMembers of Nova Scotia’s forest industry and a prominent environmentalist are welcoming news that the winning bidder for the Northern Pulp timberlands is a local company whose owner they say has a track record of doing right by rural communities.’I don’t think we could have found a better buyer than the Bragg family’Michael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Dec 12, 2025 3:16 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.John Bragg, the billionaire founder of Oxford Frozen Foods and Eastlink, is shown in 2016. (Radio-Canada)Members of Nova Scotia’s forest industry and a prominent environmentalist are welcoming news that the winning bidder for the Northern Pulp timberlands is a local company whose owner they say has a track record of doing right by rural communities.The Bragg family announced on Thursday that it was the successful bidder, through its Tidnish Holdings Ltd., for the 173,000 hectares of forest and other assets at a price of $235 million. Billionaire blueberry mogul John Bragg, whose interests also include Oxford Frozen Foods and Eastlink, is founder and CEO of the Bragg Group.The deal is subject to court approval next week.“I don’t want to sound too excited but in our mind that was as good an outcome as we could have hoped for,” Marcus Zwicker, chief operating officer at Harry Freeman and Son Ltd., said in an interview.“I don’t think that we could have found a better buyer than the Bragg family.”The Northern Pulp mill is seen in this file photo. The site ceased operations in 2020 and the company is now in creditor protection. It’s timberlands were auctioned off as part of that process. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)The family is no stranger to forestry, with years of experience, and is already a major landholder through its company Bragg Lumber. It’s likely that when the deal for the Northern Pulp land closes, the Braggs will become the largest landholder in Nova Scotia after the provincial government.Todd Burgess, the executive director of Forest Nova Scotia, said the Braggs have a proven track record when it comes to forestry.“They’re very diligent and they’re very active,” he said Friday.“So when they harvest, they replant, they reforest, they tend their forest and they look after special places, as well. So they’re a good corporate citizen.”Burgess and Zwicker both said that having the land controlled by a local company provides more certainty for the future than if it were an out-of-province or foreign interest who might not have as much or any consideration for the wellbeing of the province.Price caught people’s attentionZwicker said previous work experience he’s had that involved interactions with Bragg Lumber showed him that the family takes a long-term view when it comes to how they manage their land.“It’s very sustainable and it’s always looking for how is the forest going to be healthier and better managed in the future.”The price of the deal caught a lot of people’s attention, said Zwicker.Land usually sells for about $800 an acre on transitions of 1,000 acres or less, he said. By that metric, Bragg got a deal by paying about $550 an acre.But Zwicker said that when this sale is compared to other comparable large transactions, such as when the provincial government bought the Bowater lands — or what an Ontario-based outfit first offered for the Northern Pulp land — Bragg’s price per acre is higher.He said that is a good indication the family intends to take a long-term approach on its use and it also bodes well for other large landowners in the province.“I’m telling you right now that the text messages last night around the price blew everybody out of the water.”Time for province to protect more landRay Plourde, senior wilderness co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, said he is also heartened by the fact that the land will be in the hands of a Nova Scotian.“John Bragg, of course, has a sterling reputation in Nova Scotia and he has genuine concern for our province and our people, so that’s positive,” he said in an interview.Plourde said he’s hoping the Braggs adopt the ecological approach to forestry as outlined in the 2018 Lahey Report and as used on Crown land.With the timberlands appearing destined to continue to be used for forestry, Plourde said there is now more than enough security of supply for the industry.With that settled, he called on the Nova Scotia government to get on with making good on its commitment to protect 20 per cent of the province’s land and water mass by 2030.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORMichael Gorman covers the Nova Scotia legislature for CBC, with additional focuses on health care and rural communities. Contact him with story ideas at michael.gorman@cbc.ca
Forestry sector heralds Bragg family bid for Northern Pulp land
