By Anthony Corea

CANFOR REACTION

More local reaction to devastating cuts announced by Canfor

May 13, 2024 | 5:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE– 220 jobs were lost in Prince George and 400 jobs were lost in our region. All as a result of Canfor announcing it is indefinitely curtailing one production line at its Northwood facility in Prince George and permanently closing its Polar sawmill in Bear Lake.

Adding to the news was the company’s decision not to reinvest in its mill in Houston BC, due to the persistent shortage of economically available timber and challenging operating conditions. Devastating news for smaller communities in Northern BC.

Mike Bernier, MLA of Peace River South says a lot of the blame is on the provincial government, which he says must provide a better economic environment for large companies to grow and thrive.

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“Companies like Canfor, West Fraser, and others have been meeting in, Vancouver and Victoria with the different ministers and the premier, and they’ve been flagging this now for a couple of years. They’ve come and said, if you don’t change policy or if you don’t do something to create a positive investment climate in British Columbia, it’s hard for us to stay operational.” – Mike Bernier, MLA, Peace River South.

In Prince George, City Counceler Garth Frizzell says the city has enough of a diversified economy being the Hub of Northern BC to withstand the cuts. Despite all that, he says it’s still a big blow to the industry and more importantly, to the families impacted.

“We’ve had forestry as a central part of our economy since the city began and to see cut after cut after cut is not it’s not just disheartening. It’s something that makes us all stop and sit back. And you have to think about what’s happening with families in the community right now.” Garth Frizzell, Prince George City Council

Pattison Media is owned by Jim Pattison Industries, a majority shareholder in Canfor.