Hampton Affiliates to Announce Future of Babine Forest Products Mill
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 4:00 AM
Burns Lake, B.C.- Later this morning, the community of Burns Lake will find out what lies ahead for the Babine Forest Products sawmill. With the level of Provincial Government involvement in the planned news conference, it is anticipated the news will be positive.
Hampton Affiliates, the parent company, will be holding a news conference in Burns Lake today, to announce their plans for the site. The Babine Forest Products mill burned to the ground last January following a deadly explosion and fire which claimed the lives of two employees and injured many more.
The key to the rebuilding of the mill, is the availability of fibre. The area has been hard hit by the mountain pine beetle and future fibre supply has been in question. The recently released fibre supply report suggested it is possible to meet the long term demand for fibre.
When the fibre supply report was released, Hampton Affiliates made it clear they would make their decision on the future of that mill in 30 days. The company has confirmed it will release that decision today.
Comments
Hang on
Hopefully its good news. On the other hand hopefully if they get the fibre they need, they can do this without **strip logging** close to roads, lakes, parks, etc;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/burns-lake-sawmill-poised-to-rise-from-its-ashes/article4548510
Seems that government reps will be there. Not a likely scenario if they were not planning to rebuild.
Still contingent on fibre supply from the sounds of it. So, they will be putting the government’s feet to the fire.
Wonder what other incentives there will be.
Which, of course, leads to the matter of a Lakeland rebuild – when and where?
And, let us not forget about the plywood plant.
http://foresttalk.com/index.php/2012/07/26/wrongful-dismissal-costs-babine-forest-products-over-800000
Speaking about Hampton and Burns Lake, here is an interesting little tidbit about past personnel practices at the mill.
A wrongful dismissal case was won by the 34 year long employee of the company. He was given the largest punitive damages award in an employment law case in Canadian history.
ï§$236,000 in compensatory damages for wrongful dismissal
ï§$573,000 in punitive damages for the companiesâ conduct in terminating him
It will be interesting to see how many direct mill jobs there will be when compared to the previous mill. I would think it might be reduced by as much as 50%.
I will assume its good news or else would be announced somewhere else then Burns Lake to avoid the rath of Burns Lake residents.
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