Transcontinental to shut down printing plant in Dartmouth, 55 layoffs to come

A TC Transcontinental sign is pictured at the company's annual general meeting in Montreal, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

HALIFAX - Transcontinental Inc. says it's shutting down a printing plant in the Halifax area, resulting in about 55 layoffs, by mid-August.

The company says it's selling most of its commercial printing line of business operated from its plant in Dartmouth to Advocate Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., an independent printer and publisher in Atlantic Canada.

Jacques Gregoire, president of Transcontinental Printing, says the decision was made due to the shifting landscape for some commercial products.

Transcontinental (TSX:TCL.A, TSX:TCL.B) recently sold all of its newspaper assets in Saskatchewan and closed a printing plant in Saskatoon, though it has said its retail flyer operations remain stable.

The company says it will continue to serve its customers in Atlantic Canada for retail flyers, newspapers and some specific commercial products through its printing network, which includes Transcontinental Halifax, Transcontinental Prince Edward Island and Transcontinental St. John's.

Transcontinental has close to 8,000 employees in Canada and the U.S., with revenues of C$2.0 billion in 2015.