Western Forest Products‘ Ladysmith mill in British Columbia is shutting down until the start of next year because of weakening US lumber markets and the strengthening Canadian dollar.
The 70 workers being laid off will return when the mill reopens on January 4. A further 30 workers will continue to work on the planing facilities for several weeks before also being laid off.
Meanwhile, Paragon Wood Products’ cedar mill in Lumby, BC, has closed indefinitely, affecting about 80 people.
The company said the mill had problems securing enough logs to process because of new government legislation which has resulted in bigger timber companies buying up all the cedar. The high price of cedar has also been a factor.
