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By Victor Kaisar

Tolko Downtime

Tolko temporary closing several B.C. mills this December

Nov 30, 2024 | 12:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — Workers at the Tolko Mill in Heffley Creek will be on a temporary curtailment for a little over two weeks starting next month as part of an end-of-year closure at multiple Tolko operations in British Columbia.

Tolko spokesperson Chris Downey told CFJC Today that the Heffley Creek mill will stop production after Friday, Dec. 20 with operations set to resume on Monday, Jan. 6. The scales at the mill will be open for deliveries.

“This temporary downtime is due to high fibre costs, poor weather conditions during the fall harvesting season, and weak North American lumber and plywood markets,” Downey said, in an email.

“These decisions are not made without a lot of consideration.”

Other temporary closures at Tolko operations are as follows:

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• The sawmill and planermill at Armstrong Lumber will stop production after Friday, Dec. 20 and will resume operations on Monday, Jan. 6.
• The sawmill at Lavington will stop production after Friday, Dec. 20 and will resume operations on Monday, Jan. 6. The planermill and shipping will be running on some days during this time.
• Lakeview sawmill will stop production after Friday Dec. 13 and will resume operations on Monday, Jan. 6. The planermill will run as usual during this time
• Soda Creek sawmill will stop production after Friday, Dec. 20 and will resume operations on Monday, Jan. 20. The planermill will operate as required during this time.
• Lake Country will be taking downtime from Dec. 23 to 27 and will resume production on Monday, Dec. 30.
• Armstrong Plywood and White Valley will only be closed for the statutory holidays plus Dec. 27.

Downey also said Tolko will operate its shipping departments as required to meet customer’s needs.

Asked whether employees would be paid their regular wage, a reduced wage, or nothing at all during the curtailment, Downey said its “a mix of situations” for different employees based on where they work and work agreements that may be in place.

“Some employees will be able to take vacation time and others will be able to claim Employment Insurance while temporarily laid off,” Downey said.

“As noted, the planermill at some locations will continue to run and shipping departments will be working as needed. Some employees will be kept for site continuity and log deliveries into the mills will continue for most days that are not statutory holidays.”

Downey says the affected Tolko employees were told about the upcoming downtime this week.

“We have an extremely committed workforce whose families and communities rely on Tolko for stable jobs, and we recognize the impact this has on many employees,” he added.

“The BC policy and regulatory burden causing high costs and limiting access to available economic fibre for our BC manufacturing facilities continues to impact our BC footprint.”

“B.C. will have a forest economy, and Tolko has the people, the presence, the history and the resilience to continue to be a major part of it,” Downey added, in his initial email.