More bad news for Tolko employees.
The company says all of its BC Operations will be taking two weeks of downtime from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6 during the holiday season. The last day of production will be December 20.
In a release, Vice President of Solid Wood, Troy Connolly says this downtime is a result of low prices and high log costs in the province.
“This downtime will reduce output by approximately 21 million board feet of lumber production and 10 million square feet of panel production”, he said.
Tolko’s Corporate Office in Vernon too will be closed the week of Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, with staffing levels at all BC Operations restricted to essential services during this period.
The downtime comes the company announced it would be shutting down its Kelowna mill permanently on Jan. 8.
“Our Marketing and Sales team will continue to support our customers and do our best to minimize any impacts,” said Pino Pucci, Tolko’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “Our customers are understanding of current market conditions and aware of our ongoing commitment to serve them.”
Tolko has mills at Heffley Creek in Kamloops, as well as near Williams Lake, Richmond, Armstrong, Lumby, Coldstream, and Kelowna.