THE B.C. Liberals said on Wednesday that Premier John Horgan and the NDP continue to ignore the BC Liberals’ calls for action as the forestry sector slides deeper into crisis. Despite an ever-growing list of shift curtailments and complete shutdowns of mill operations across the province, Finance Minister Carole James announced on Tuesday the NDP has ruled out any new funding to assist the province’s forest sector – instead, offering only her sympathies to workers.

“The workers, families and communities suffering as a result of John Horgan’s complete failure of leadership need tangible relief, not sympathy,” said Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Critic and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “John Horgan has sent out his finance minister to deliver the bad news and meanwhile, he won’t even answer his phone. This is an insult to workers in my community who deserve better.”

So far in 2019, there have been at least 88 weeks of operational downtime announced at various mill operations throughout B.C. In addition there are now five permanent closures, significant shift reductions and hundreds of millions of board feet curtailed.

Sympathies from Horgan and the NDP don’t cut it. Hard-working B.C. families struggling to deal with this crisis deserve action, not words, added the B.C. Liberals.

 

A list of mill shutdowns and closures under the NDP in 2019

 

June 17

Chasm Sawmill (West Fraser) – Permanent Closure

100 Mile Lumber (West Fraser) – 1 Shift Reduction

June 13

Peace Valley Osb Mill (Louisiana Pacific) – Indefinite Closure

Taylor Pulp Mill (Canfor) – 5-Week Closure Notice

June 11

100 Mile House Osb Mill (Norbord) Indefinite Closure

June 10

Houston Sawmill (Canfor) – 4-Week Closure Notice

Plateau Sawmill (Canfor) – 4-Week Closure Notice

McKenzie Sawmill (Canfor) – 6-Week Closure Notice

Fort St. John Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Chetwynd Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Polar Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Prince George Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Radium Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Elko Sawmill (Canfor) – 2-Week Closure Notice

June 6

Saltair Sawmill (Western Forest Products) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Duke Point Sawmill (Western Forest Products) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Chemainus Sawmill (Western Forest Products) – 40-Hours Per Week Shift Reduction

June 5

Armstrong Division (Tolko) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Soda Creek Division (Tolko) – 2-Week Closure Notice

June 3

Vavenby Sawmill (Canfor) – Permanent Closure

Chetwynd Forest Industries (West Fraser) – 1-Week Closure Notice

Quesnel Sawmill (West Fraser) – 1-Week Closure Notice

Williams Lake Sawmill (West Fraser) – 1-Week Closure Notice

Pacific Inland Resources (West Fraser) – 1-Week Closure Notice

Fraser Lake Sawmills (West Fraser) – 1-Week Closure Notice

May 31

Surrey Sawmill (Teal Jones) – 4-Week Closure Notice

TFL46 Honeymoon Bay – Second Growth Harvesting Shutdown

May 30

Aspen Planers Lumber Mill (Aspen Planers) – 1 Shift Reduction

May 28

Castlegar Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

Adams Lake Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

Grand Forks Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

May 23

Armstrong Division (Tolko) – 2-Week Closure Notice

Soda Creek Division (Tolko) – 2-Week Closure Notice

May 16

Chasm Sawmill (West Fraser) – 2-Week Closure Notice

100 Mile Lumber (West Fraser) – 2-Week Closure Notice

May 10

Quest Wood Sawmill (Tolko) – Permanent Closure

Kelowna Division (Tolko) – 1 Shift Reduction

May 1

Fort St. James Sawmill (Conifex) – 4-Week Closure Notice

Mackenzie Sawmill (Conifex) – 3-Week Closure Notice

April 25

Castlegar Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

Adams Lake Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

Grand Forks Sawmill (Interfor) – 20-Million Board Feet Curtailment

April 24

All B.C. Dimension Mills (Canfor) – 100-Million Board Feet Curtailment

March 8

Alberni Sawmill (Western Forest Products) – 4-Week Closure Notice

January 31

Fort St. James Sawmill (Conifex) – 3-Week Closure Notice

January 30

Vavenby Sawmill (Canfor) – 6-Week Closure Notice

Houston Sawmill (Canfor) – 1-Week Closure Notice

Mackenzie Sawmill (Canfor) – 1-Week Closure Notice

January 14

Chasm Sawmill (West Fraser) – 3-Week Closure Notice

100 Mile Lumber (West Fraser) – 3-Week Closure Notice

Chetwynd Forest Industries (West Fraser) 3- -Week Closure Notice