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Clark offered her condolences to the families of two men killed in the January 2012 explosion, and commended the distance the community has come since then.

“The explosion at the Babine sawmill was a terrible, terrible tragedy,” she said, flanked by hardhat-wearing construction workers who paused for a brief visit from the premier.

“Burns Lake also lost the economic backbone of its community.”

Clark said she remembers the emotion of visiting the burned-out mill in the days after the fire.

“I also, though, am incredibly proud of the courage, the strength and perseverance that this community, the people in this community, have shown to make this historic day possible.”

After signing her name in freshly poured concrete, Clark announced the official start of construction on the new mill.

In December, the Liberal government announced that owner Hampton Affiliates Ltd., had committed to rebuilding the mill after after the province signed deals to guarantee timber supply.

The new mill is expected to be up and running again early next year.

Clark cited the new facility as proof the forestry strategy that forms part of her Liberal government’s jobs plan is working.

“Our forest industry has been through many blows in the past two decades and yet today it stands tall,” she said.

Clark has spent much of her campaign touting her government’s plan for economic growth, with heavy machinery of one type or another forming the backdrop.