HALIFAX - Premier Darrell Dexter says the loss of hundreds of jobs at a Cape Breton paper mill is a devastating turn of events.

NewPage Corporation says the workers at its mill in Port Hawkesbury will be laid off next month for an indefinite period as the company struggles to cope with a stronger Canadian dollar and rising rates for shipping and electricity.

Dexter says he wants to make sure the layoffs are for as short a period as possible.

He says he's told NewPage that he's prepared to assist and look for ways to try to help.

The Ohio-based company says the Port Hawkesbury mill has been unprofitable for more than a year.

The plant's two paper machines will be shut down separately on September 10th and September 16th.

About 550 people work at the mill itself and another 50 in the company's woodlands operation.

About 400 forestry contractors feed the mill with pulp wood.