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ASPEN PLANERS

New source of fibre leads to Aspen Planers bringing back second shift

Dec 3, 2019 | 11:19 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — While B.C. continues to be gripped by the ongoing forestry crisis, there is some good news for the Aspen Planers mill in Merritt.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development Ravi Kahlon says Aspen Planers is opening a second shift.

“Many mills are going to curtailment and Aspen Planers — we’ve been working with them for the last two months, the union, the Mayor’s office — and we were able to find them fibre to stay open through the holidays,” Kahlon says, “which was a small bit of good news for the region. It’s good news for Domtar as well because they’re now going to get more product.”

Kahlon says they were able to get the fibre through fire mitigation work.

“I met with the Interior Truck Loggers Association yesterday (Dec. 2), obviously it’s welcome news for many of their members who are going to be working to bring that in,” Kahlon said. “We have to continue to find long-term solutions, but in the short-term, this is good news for at least 50 additional employees in Merritt.”

“It doesn’t solve the entire forestry challenge but it’s a small bit of good news over the holidays.”

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