Tory Leader Tim Houston says the provincial government should have been ready to hit the ground running with its transition team intended to help forestry workers as the Northern Pulp mill prepares to shut down by the end of January.
Without a place to send its effluent, the mill cannot operate.
In announcing his decision, McNeil also detailed plans for a transition team that would include officials from multiple departments, the forestry sector and Nova Scotia Community College and work with a $50-million fund to help workers trying to determine their next step.
In a statement, a government spokesperson said officials remain committed to helping the workers and forestry sector deal with the loss of what is the largest player. The mill employed about 350 people and several thousand jobs within the sector have ties to the mill.
The rest of the transition team is expected to meet and be announced in early January, according to the statement and calls are already coming in to the toll-free number where "support and customized responses" are provided depending on the caller's needs.