
More curtailments in the BC Forestry sector, this time at the Tolko lumber mills in Armstrong and Soda Creek.
The change will reduce the company’s operating capacity by 20 per cent, one week after the company announced an indefinite closure of its mill in Kelowna.
“We know this is not good news,” said Tolko solid wood vice-president Troy Connolly. “However, we have a tremendously engaged and talented workforce, and we want them to continue as part of the Tolko family. Reducing capacity and changing our footprint is the best way to keep people employed and mills operating. It also gives us the flexibility to immediately react and adjust our schedule should conditions improve. It’s the best possible option right now in current conditions.”
This is the second curtailment this year in Armstrong and Soda Creek, after four weeks of downtime in May and June. The mills were offline in the weeks of May 27 and June, which was later extended by another two weeks.
The company, in a press release says, employees were notified this morning, and Tolko’s team is working to ensure employees understand the implications of these changes.
“We want everyone to know this is not a decision we made lightly. Unfortunately, this is a tumultuous time for Tolko and the industry,” Connolly added. “We are forced to make tough decisions to ensure we remain sustainable for the long-term. We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our employees and thank them for sticking with us through this difficult time.”
The announcement comes just one day after the provincial government announced a $69-million investment to help forestry workers affected by mill closures.