Two weeks of downtime at the Tolko sawmill in Heffley Creek is starting tomorrow.

Tolko says the holiday downtime is a result of high costs of logs and low returns to sell them.

“It’s not just Kamloops. British Columbia is undergoing a transformation in terms of the total allowable cut. And we had a number of glory years when we were getting rid of the wood that was affected by the mountain pine beetle. And now that total allowable cut has returned to pre-mountain-pine-beetle levels and we have to adjust,” Kamloops mayor Ken Christian says.

Tolko has kept up with the automation needed to stay viable, Christian says.

“Tolko keeps me apprised of their business continuity plans, and this is an extended Christmas break but they are committed to keeping their Heffley Creek operation going. And Kamloops welcomes that news and the employees who are supported by those jobs.”

The company has closed mills in Kelowna and Quesnel this year, affecting well over 200 jobs combined in those places.