Catalyst Paper announces extension of the private exchange offer and consent
solicitation related to its 8 5/8% senior notes due 2011 (CUSIP No.
65653RAD5)

RICHMOND , BC, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - Catalyst Paper Corporation (TSX:CTL) today announced an extension of the private exchange offer and consent solicitation (the "Exchange Offer") for its outstanding 8 5/8% Senior Notes due June 15, 2011 (the "Old Notes"), made pursuant to its Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation, dated November 24, 2009 (the "Offering Memorandum") and the accompanying letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal" and together with the Offering Memorandum, the "Offer Documents").

The exchange offer and consent solicitation is being amended to extend the expiration date from 9:00 a.m. , New York City time, on December 24, 2009 , to 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on January 15, 2010 , unless further extended by Catalyst. All other terms of the Exchange Offer remain unchanged.

Catalyst has been advised by the exchange agent for the Exchange Offer that, as of the close of business on December 22, 2009 , the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes that had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and for which related consents had been validly delivered (and not validly revoked) was approximately U.S. $29.35 million .

The Exchange Offer will be made, and the New Notes will be offered and issued, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Accordingly, the Exchange Offer will only be made to holders of Old Notes (i) that are both "qualified institutional buyers," as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and "accredited investors," as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, or (ii) outside the United States , that are persons other than "U.S. persons," as that term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, in offshore transactions in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act (collectively, the "Eligible Holders"). In Canada , the Exchange Offer will be made pursuant to the exemption from the prospectus and registration requirement found in S.2.14 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions ("NI 45-106")

THIS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER, TO BUY OR SELL ANY SECURITY. THIS RELEASE ALSO IS NOT A SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE INDENTURE. OFFERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL BE MADE SOLELY BY THE OFFER DOCUMENTS AND ONLY TO ELIGIBLE HOLDERS. NO RECOMMENDATION IS BEING MADE BY CATALYST AS TO WHETHER HOLDERS OF THE OLD NOTES SHOULD TENDER THEIR OLD NOTES OR GIVE THEIR CONSENT.

%CIK: 0001144906

For further information: Investors: Brian Baarda, Vice-President, Finance & CFO, [phone]; Peter Staiger, Vice-President, Treasurer, [phone]; Media: Lyn Brown, Vice-President, Corporate Relations, [phone]