By Cheryl Jahn

Pulp and Paper Coalition predicts closures

Oct 18, 2022 | 3:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – BC’s Pulp and Paper Coalition is sounding the alarm over the fate of the province’s pulp mills. In April 2020, the community of Mackenzie was devastated by the news from Paper Excellence. It was curtailing operations indefinitely and, the following April, the pulp mill was permanently closed, citing a lack of fibre to keep the operation working. But the Pulp and Paper Coalition is predicting the closure of another two to three pulps mills if the fibre situation isn’t cleared up by Christmas. And it stems from the reduction in the Annual Allowable Cut, resulting in the closures of more than 4030 sawmills in BC

“There’s probably some more to go,” says John Brink, Owner of Brink Forest Products, a value-added finger-jointing operation that also relies on residual fibres. Maybe two, three, four I don’t know. Because there’s still a lot of pressure on the AAC.

“The other thing that impacts are the pulp mills. Pulp mills rely directly on sawmills to provide the chips mainly.” But the sector’s tertiary sector relies on wood residuals and is also feeling the fibre supply pinch. “

Sexual Assault and Harassment

Judge to rule on Canada Post employee's sexual assault and harassment case

2h ago

Weather Alerts

Freezing rain warning issued for Prince George-area, snowfall warning remains for Williston, Pine Pass

6h ago

Spruce Kings 4 Express 3

Lougheed's buzzer-beater lifts Spruce Kings to fifth consecutive win

6h ago

We can do more with the fibre,” says Brink. “And I think what we need to stimulate is the entrepreneurialship. We need more secondary manufacturing. In particularly in the region.” According to the Coalition, pulp and paper is the fourth most exported product in the province, generating 3.9 billion last year alone. More closures would be a significant impact to the province’s GDP.