Quebec’s Lac-Saint-Jean Sawmill Indefinitely Ceases Operations
The Lac-Saint-Jean sawmill is closing indefinitely
The Ferland-Boileau Forestry Cooperative said it will indefinitely cease operations at its Lac-Saint-Jean sawmill in Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec, citing US tariffs, a weak lumber market, and months of financial losses, Canadian Forest Industries reported (2-3-26).
A total of 128 workers will be laid off for an indefinite period.
The cooperative said the financial position of its Lignarex sawmill in La Baie, Quebec, is stronger, and operations there will continue. The Bois Lac-Saint-Jean drying and planing plant in Hébertville, Quebec, will also remain open, processing wood from Lignarex to offset lost output from the Lac-Saint-Jean facility.
Commenting on the closure, Ferland-Boileau general manager Éric Rousseau said:
“Given the current state of the market, we had to make the decision to close temporarily, reluctantly. We’ve stretched the elastic for a long time, but we have to wait for a market recovery, so it doesn’t break.”
“We took possession of this sawmill 18 months ago and, as there are more debts attached to it, we are not making any money.”
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