DEBERT - A weak housing market has led to uncertainty of when the Kent Homes plant in Debert will reopen.
The plant typically shuts down during the winter but employees are concerned about the plant's future.
"The Debert plant runs based on market demand," JD Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith told the Truro Daily News.
"There has been a downturn in new home construction. The plant will certainly resume operation if there is significant commercial activity to warrant that.
"At this point in time, unfortunately there isn't, so the plant is closed indefinitely until we see an improvement in the number of new home orders."
There has been no announcement of a permanent closure at the plant.
The company continues to monitor the market demand and look for new opportunities. Keith said new home sales in the United States are at a 47-year low.
Kent Homes opened in Debert in the 1980s, temporarily closed in 1990 and reopened in 2003. While employment is dependent on the number of orders the company has, the plant typically employs about 70 people.
The plant temporarily closes when orders are low and during the non-construction season. The facility has been closed employees on since November.
The company also has a plant in Bouctouche, N.B. which was closed in January but resumed operations in February.
Colchester North MLA Karen Casey said she has heard from a plant employee who was waiting to hear when they would be going back to work.
"I think Irving really sees a role for that plant but until they can get the orders firmed up, they can't make a commitment to their workers," she said, noting the "uncertainty" is a concern for the workers.
"They don't know whether they should go and look for another job," she added. "There's nothing definite for when they are going to get back."
She said the global market is having a direct impact on the economy of Colchester North. The strength of the province's economy, Casey believes, is in small communities and enabling people to stay and work close to their home communities.
"Once the industry is gone out of those communities, we often see them die off, that is something we want to try to avoid," Casey said.