Friday, July 27, 2007

Canfor gives Mackenzie hope for the future


Canfor has removed the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the town of Mackenzie since May, the BC forest company today announced that the sawmill in northeastern B. C. will remain open, working on a modified shift schedule and keeping over 300 Canfor employees on the job.
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The development was greeted with happiness by municipal officials in Mackenzie, who will still continue on with their plans to diversify the local economy.

While the news is good for most of Mackenzie, there still will be 130 workers who will lose their jobs with the downsizing, as an older and smaller mill on the Mackenzie site will be shut down.

The opinion 250 website had full details on a much anticipated decision from Canfor.

Canfor Gives Mackenzie Reprieve
By
250 News
Friday, July 27, 2007 02:45 PM

More than 300 jobs at Canfor’s Mackenzie sawmill have been spared.

Canfor has made a decision on the Mackenzie Mill’s “indefinite” shutdown.

The company has decided it will close the old, small mill, but will maintain the “A” mill and will triple shift that facility. The decision means 320 jobs will be maintained.

There will be reduced production however, there will be changes to the mill’s efficiencies.
The decision means there will still be job losses, about 130 people will be displaced. There will be retirement packages offered and the Company says it will do what it can to find positions for employees throughout the Canfor operations.

It also means there is job certainty for the community partners , including the logging contractors, who rely so heavily on the Canfor operations in Mackenzie.

Prince George North MLA Pat Bell says the Mackenzie team worked extremely hard to achieve this result. “The employees have all worked hard to find ways to increase the efficiencies, the management team has really pulled together, and this is a victory for everyone. It is their day to celebrate.”

Canfor has just released its second quarter results which show a continued loss. This quarter, the loss was $38.8 million, down from the first quarter loss of $42.7 million.

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