Northern B.C. MP speaks out on sawmill closures in Parliament – Enterprise Information

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach has raised Canfor’s Houston mill closure in Parliament.

He known as on the federal authorities to assist Houston households and companies affected by Canfor’s closure of its sawmill, introduced final month.

“There are few issues extra devastating for a rural group than studying that its main employer is closing its doorways,” mentioned Bachrach in his assertion.

“It’s going to place 300 mill workers out of labor — that is 10 per cent of the populations. And it’ll have an effect on tons of extra who work for contractors and native companies.”

Bachrach mentioned that regardless of options introduced ahead by the mayor of Houston, the native forestry business, and the Steelworkers Union – together with federal job creation and re-instatement of EI flexibility – the Liberal authorities has taken no motion.

“The BC authorities is already on the bottom, working with the folks of Houston to search out options. We want the federal authorities to step up and play a job as effectively,” mentioned Bachrach.

Canfor introduced it could shut its Houston mill in April, citing weak markets making its continued operation uneconomical.

Nevertheless, an announcement by the corporate known as the closure non permanent, saying there’s a plan to rebuild the power with newer tools however that will likely be decided by approval of Canfor’s board of administrators.

Current mill closures have been affecting communities throughout northern B.C. as Canfor is completely closing its sawmill and pellet plant in Chetwynd and the Jan. 11 closure of Canfor Pulp in Prince George noticed about 90 union employees laid off.