Logs sit stacked at Groupe Crete, a sawmill in Mont-Blanc, Que., on Jan. 20, 2025. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi
The operators of a Saskatchewan sawmill say production will be curtailed later this year for an unknown amount of time.
Workers at the mill in Big River received news about layoffs in a letter Thursday from Carrier Forest Products Inc., stating it would “indefinitely curtail production” beginning Oct. 16.
A statement from Carrier says approximately 117 employees will be affected, and it cites “many challenges, including the cumulative and ongoing effects of persistent weak market conditions.”
It says the weak Canadian dollar means the cost of cross-border financing has gone up and that last year’s wildfires reduced the amount of timber available for the Big River facility.
Jeff Bromley of the United Steelworkers Wood Council calls the news about the Big River facility “devastating” but adds there’s some hope because it’s not a permanent closure.
Bromley says workers at numerous mills in British Columbia have also faced similar news.
“Saskatchewan has managed to stay going and get through this mess,” Bromley said in a phone interview.
Carrier said some workers will remain at the site until the end of January in order to ensure the curtailment is orderly. It said it regrets the impact the curtailment will have on employees, their families, their communities, suppliers and customers.
“Management has not determined that the facility will be permanently closed and remains committed to reviewing all options to resuming operations in the future,” its statement said.
Jordan McPhail, the Opposition NDP’s forestry critic, said in a statement the Saskatchewan Party government has refused to protect the sector from U.S. tariffs, and has allowed disease, insects and fires to devastate forests.
“My thoughts are with the 117 workers and their families who will be impacted by this decision,” McPhail said in the statement.
“These are families being thrown into financial anxiety, because of the total mismanagement of Saskatchewan’s forestry industry by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party.”
Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry said in a statement the government is committed to connecting laid-off workers with support services.
He added the province wants a “strong and prosperous” forestry sector.
“We have made significant changes to the timber royalty system to align it with other resource royalty structures in the province to help improve the industries competitiveness,” Beaudry said.
“Today’s announcement is a direct result of the unjustified U.S. tariffs and duties, a weak pricing environment and a falling exchange rate.”
