By Greg Fry / CKPG Today

West Fraser scales down operations in Quesnel, Fraser Lake

Nov 14, 2018 | 8:42 AM

QUESNEL, B.C. — More bad news for the forest industry.

                    West Fraser has announced it will permanently curtail approximately 300 million board feet of combined lumber production at its Fraser Lake and Quesnel sawmills.

“The curtailment will be realized through the elimination of the third shift at each sawmill,” said the company in a news release. 

West Fraser says the reduction in lumber production is expected to impact approximately 60 employees at Fraser Lake and 75 workers at its Quesnel operation over the first and second quarter of 2019.

The company says it expects to mitigate the impact on affected employees by offering them work opportunities at other West Fraser operations.

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West Fraser attributes its decision to the timber supply shortage created by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

The news out of West Fraser follows a decision by Conifex this week to curtail production at its sawmill in Fort St. James for two weeks this month and again in December.

In addition to that, Canfor announced it is temporarily curtailing sawmill operations in B.C. by about 10 per cent in the fourth quarter.

Conifex and Canfor both blame their decisions on log costs and market conditions.