By Cheryl Jahn

Brink takes next steps in Canfor offer

Sep 24, 2024 | 4:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The plans by John Brink came only days after Canfor announced the closure of two more sawmills: One in Vanderhoof and the other in Fort St. John.

“We will purchase Polar and the tenure associated in Houston with the Houston sawmill.,” Brink told CKPG News in early September.

Brink’s intention is to buy four of Canfor’s operations, all of which are closed or are about to.

“We would take over the polar sawmill and then the one in Fort St. John, one in Vanderhoof and the one in Houston to be effective April the first, 2025.”

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Now, Brink has made the next move in that endeavour.

“We had interacting with Industrial Forest Services, probably recognized globally as one of the experts in that field. So we did the evaluation of it and then formalized that with the offer that came out yesterday, actually. He says the next move has to come from Canfor and its shareholders will hope to have the answer by October 15th.”

“The ball is in their court.”

Brink Forest Products has been in operation since 1975. As a secondary producer, it relies on fibre from primary producers like Canfor.

“The problem for us always has been access to raw material and fibre. Canfor has been one of our main suppliers for all that period of time, and we work with them very, very closely.”

With the pending closure of the Platueau mill, the Nak’azdli First Nations was less-than-favourable in its comments about Canfor. The plight of the community has even caught the attention of the Premier at the Union of BC Municipalities.

“I want to recognize one community in particular that has faced a really serious challenge around some frankly, some tough decisions that were made by Canfor that impacted the community of Vanderhoof.”

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