Canfor Announces Final Log Processing, Kiln, and Planer Shutdown Schedule for Its Houston, BC, Sawmill

British Columbia’s Houston Today newspaper reported Wednesday (3-22-23) that layoff notices have gone out and the last log is set to be processed at Canfor’s Houston, BC, sawmill on March 31st. The move sets into motion the phasing out of the Houston sawmill facility originally announced by Canfor in late January, with high logging costs and uncertain timber supply cited as the reason for the mill’s closure.

According to a statement from Michelle Ward, a spokesperson for Canfor, given to Houston Today, “The kiln will shut down approximately two weeks later, followed by the planer a week later. All operations are anticipated to be wrapped up by the end of April.”

Canfor is working to place laid off employees, if they so wish, at other company facilities. Hourly employees are also being provided with what the company is referring to as transition payments.

Canfor says it wants to build a new mill more suited to its operations at the site and has set June as the date when decision will be made. Should a new mill be built, the company is forecasting a construction period of two years. Until those decisions are made, the mill will remain intact but unused. Should a new mill be built, Canfor is extending seniority for all hourly workers indefinitely, a move to ensure workers are called back to work at their seniority level.

According to the report, Canfor has also said that it will continue to log wood under license—something that will keep contractors and the company’s woodland management group employed—with Ward adding, “We will be making volume available to other manufacturers in the region for purchase. Some volume could be transported to other nearby Canfor facilities depending on market conditions.”