The Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford is calling on the federal government to explore how it could potentially use the Crofton mill.

MP Jeff Kibble is floating the idea of it being used by the Department of National Defense.

It’s been nearly eight months since the Domtar mill stopped producing pulp, but part of its 133-hectare property remains in use.

Watch the report below:

On Friday, crews were loading logs onto a ship at its deep sea port.

The deep sea port at the Crofton mill on August 28, 2026.

It’s one of the key assets of the property that has the region’s MP calling on Ottawa to consider the property’s purchase.

“What I recommended is that the government immediately conduct a feasibility study to see if this is an opportunity to expand the base at Esquimalt. We know that the opportunity to have a deep water industrial site is rare and we also know that the navy is expanding rapidly,” said Kibble.

Kibble, who’s in Quebec studying French this week, served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 28 years and says with the Department of National Defence increasing its spending and capabilities, the Crofton mill site is too good to pass up.

“There’s going to be more ships, we know that, and with the Coast Guard falling under the Department of National Defence and there’s a fairly aggressive program to build new Coast Guard ships as well, so they’re going to need more space and facility,” he said. “So this is a perfect opportunity.”

North Cowichan’s mayor says local government is on board.

“I’d say North Cowichan is supportive of any proposals at the federal/provincial level to advance the redevelopment of the Crofton mill site,” said Rob Douglas.

Douglas says he’s heard from close to 12 potential buyers and he’d like to see continued industrial uses at the site.

Douglas notes when Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby announced the Canada-BC Cooperative Prosperity Agreement in July, Eby did specifically mention shipbuilding as a possibility at the Crofton mill site.

“I did have a chance to discuss it with the premier afterwards and he indicated that the Crofton mill site had come up as a property of real interest as a part of those negotiations, so you know it’s on the province’s radar, some of these uses, and hopefully there’s a way that our local, provincial, federal interests can work together,” said Douglas.

When asked about Kibble’s proposal, Domtar in a statement simply said it’s “exploring a variety of possibilities for the future of the site”.