'Nothing to talk about' with mill: Skinner

Newfoundland and Labrador's industry minister denies making any mistakes by not informing businesses in the Grand Falls-Windsor area about a German company's interest in an old newsprint mill.

The local chamber of commerce said last week it was annoyed to learn through the media that a German company had recently toured the defunct AbitibiBowater mill.

Shawn Skinner, the minister of industry, trade and rural development, said there were good reasons for not disclosing the site visit.

"Until there was an expression of interest from them, there was really nothing to talk about," Skinner told CBC News.

Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale revealed the visit in the house of assembly earlier this month. She later told reporters that it was too early to suggest that the company would want to take over the newsprint mill, which AbitibiBowater shut down in early 2009.

Chamber of Commerce president Gerald Thompson said local businesses should have had the opportunity to meet with the prospective suitor or, at the very least, be told that a company was interested in the mill.

"We thought we were a partner in this venture together, and obviously we're not," he said.

But Skinner said there was no intention to embarrass anyone.

"Until we hear back from the German company, I have nothing to talk to him about or anyone else in Grand Falls-Windsor or the central region," he said.

Skinner said people in Grand Falls-Windsor are always consulted, as long as there's something concrete to report.