Tembec announces mill closures

After recent news of indefinite mill closures slated for Canfor sawmill operations in Radium, Vavenby and Rustad, Tembec Forest Products has now confirmed that it will be stopping production at two of its East Kootenay mill operations. [Read more]

NDP calls on Forest Minister to face laid-off workers as mill closures continue to pile up

Press release –

VICTORIA – With layoffs and mill closures continuing to pile up, New Democrat MLAs blasted the Campbell government in the Legislature today over its ongoing neglect of the forest industry. NDP forest critic Bob Simpson and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald challenged forests minister Pat Bell to face forestry workers at upcoming meetings in Prince George and Quesnel. In particular, the New Democrat MLAs called on the Bell to explain the Campbell government’s failure to fight for extended employment insurance as benefits run out for thousands of workers.

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Macdonald says NDP has a ‘real’ forest plan

Press release –

BC Liberals prescribe medicine to forest crisis: the same Liberal medicine that help to make the industry sick

In a media release dated, February 7^th, the local spokesperson for the Campbell Liberals claimed that the loss of hundreds of forestry jobs in recent days due to the closure of four Tembec mills ‘underlines the need for a strong BC Liberal government’ and ‘reiterates just how important it is to keep proven leadership’ at this time of crisis.  But Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald blames lack of action on behalf of the Campbell Liberals for the severity of the current crisis in foresty. [Read more]

McKee addresses Tembec closures

Press release –

McKee says economic downturn calls for stability & proven leadership

This week’s announcement by Tembec that it would temporarily close plants in three Columbia River-Revelstoke communities underlines the need for a strong BC Liberal government capable of moving the economy forward through these tough times, says BC Liberal Candidate Mark McKee.

“Tembec’s decision to close the plants in Canal Flats, Elko and Skookumchuck reiterates just how important it is to keep proven leadership on the economy through these tough times,” he said. “This is why the BC Liberals are fighting to not only keep the provincial economy ticking and people at work, but also to oppose the NDP’s attempts to cancel the Softwood Lumber Agreement because that would cost our region even more jobs.” [Read more]

Campbell's failure to act on forestry crisis leaves local millworkers in the lurch

Press Release

The announcement of the temporary closure of four Tembec mills in the East Kootenay has left hundreds of millworkers and their families without a paycheque and Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says that government inaction has made this crisis in forestry worse.

In 2007, Tembec made a presentation to the finance committee asking that the government review how stumpage is charged and requesting tenure reform, but instead of taking Tembec’s concerns seriously, the government chose not to act.

“Tembec was clear that changes were needed in forestry policy or mills would have to close,” said Macdonald. “Now those closures have occurred, not just here in the Kootenays, but across British Columbia, and the Minister of Forest is still sitting on his hands.”

[Read more]

Tembec announces temporary closures to both their pulp and paper and lumber divisions in BC

Tembec announced temporary shutdowns in all off their British Columbia facilities this week. The Canal Flats and Elko sawmills, along with the Cranbrook finger joint facility will shut down for approximately eight weeks starting February 9, 2009. The Skookumchuck Pulp Mill will close for a six-week period on February 23, 2009. The pulp mill in Chetwynd was idled on Monday, February 2, and will “remain down until market conditions support a resumption of operations” according to the Tembec press release issued today.

Richard Fahey, Tembec’s representative, said that these shut downs are necessary to decrease the production level and an overstock of inventory in their system. While the lower Canadian dollar has mitigated the loss in demand for their product and Tembec profit margins have benefited from this situation the rapidly deteriorating global markets for their products have demanded this closure. In an effort to maintain their cash and credit reserve in this declining market the company has announced similar closures throughout their whole operation. [Read more]