Aspen Planers in Merritt (Image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

ASPEN PLANERS SHUTDOWN

Aspen Planers’ cutting permits still being reviewed: Merritt Mayor Goetz

Jan 27, 2023 | 3:48 PM

MERRITT B.C. — The Aspen Planers mill in Merritt was shutdown in December for what was supposed to be a three week closure.

Earlier this month it was announced that the shutdown had been extended and was now indefinite. Aspen credited a lack of steady log supply for the shutdown.

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz confirmed to CFJC News earlier this month that the mill was struggling to procure cutting permits from the provincial government but was hopeful that aspen could be up and running soon.

Now as February nears, Goetz noted they are in a stalemate.

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“Until they can actually get the cutting permits that they are looking for and they don’t know when those are going to be signed,” said Goetz. “They really can’t plan on when they are going to return until they actually have a commitment that the cutting permits have been signed. But they are correct they have no idea, whenever that moves forward. It could be tomorrow, could be next week, it could be two months from now. That is where the ministry has the ability to sign the permits and get everybody back to work.”

The ministry told the city that they are reviewing the permits.

Goetz noted that the shutdown in Merritt is also affecting the Aspen plants in Lillooet and Savona as the Merritt mill help feed those mills.

The shutdown, which is not stretching toward two full months, has left 150 workers out of work, while also impacting the livelihoods of countless contractors, truckers, and other in the Merritt area.

“There is also a lot more people visiting the food bank right now, we just had a meeting with the food bank people and their percentages were way up. I talked to a couple businesses over Christmas that took a hit because people are not working so they are holding on to their funds. The Christmas season was not as lucrative for our businesses in town because of this situation in town. So, there is a ripple effect that goes right through the community when something like this happens,” added Goetz.