Opposition MPs are expressing concern that after buying up two major Canadian companies, the foreign owner of one of Canada’s biggest forestry businesses is now also formally taking over an Indonesian-Chinese pulp and paper conglomerate from his family — a company he has long denied operating in tandem with.

A half-page notice quietly published by the European Union on Monday states that Jackson Wijaya, owner of Paper Excellence, is acquiring “sole control” of Asia Pulp & Paper from his father, Teguh Ganda Wijaya (also known as Oei Tjie Goan).

CBC News originally reached out to Paper Excellence with emailed questions on Thursday afternoon, but the company did not immediately respond. Shortly after this story was published on Friday, a Paper Excellence spokesperson confirmed the ownership transfer of APP, writing in an email that the latest development represents “normal course succession planning” by the senior Wijaya.

The controversial conglomerate has a record of forest destruction in Indonesia and has been a target of Indonesian and global environmental groups.

  • sbvEnglish
    6·
    3 hours ago

    Since 2010, Paper Excellence has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and provincial loans and subsidies, promising revitalization and jobs in some economically hard-hit communities. But it ultimately closed numerous mills — including in Powell River and Mackenzie, B.C. Espanola, Ont., and Pictou, N.S. The company currently owns more than 30 mills in Canada, the United States, Brazil and France

    Nothing can be done.

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯