Talking About a Community's Future

By 250 News

If the Mackenzie sawmill closes, the Mackenzie Canfor reps say it will take a combination of improved lumber prices and cost reductions to get it operating again.

That was one of the messages delivered to a packed house in Mackenzie as residents, home owners and business people turned out to find out the plans to save their community. 

Mackenzie is facing the loss of 450 jobs as Canfor plans to close the Mackenzie mill possibly by mid August. The closure would be indefinite as the company is trying to reduce lumber supply from an already flooded market. While the closure is to be temporary  in nature, there has been no indication on how long the closure would last. 

One Canfor rep says in order for the mill to reopen, it would mean lumber prices ( with a Canadian dollar at 94 cents U.S.) would have to hit at least $320 dollars.

Residents heard how the fibre supply is connected to the community, and there are some opportunities being presented through Mackenzie Green Energy.  There are possibilities being presented by Terrane Minerals, (Mount Milligan Mine) and commitments from educational institutions to help provide the necessary training.

Prince George North M.L.A. Pat Bell says there will be a strategy to make the cost of logs more attractive.

The Mackenzie Canfor team says it has a plan “A” with trying to make things as cost efficient as possible to avoid a shut down.

Plan “B” would be to find some work for residents within the Canfor fold so the workforce is not lost. 

Reps from the Mackenzie operation will be trying to huddle with senior Canfor executives to explain the two plans.  M.L.A. Bell is optimistic that meeting will happen “There are many people within Canfor who would like to see the decision reversed.  I am sure they will hear  it out, they met with me and they gave me the opportunity to have a vigorous discussion.”

As one Canfor employee asked, “Mr. Pattison  (Jim Pattison is a shareholder in Canfor) has a lot of money invested in Prince George, he has a t-v station, he has grocery stores, there are a lot of dollars there, so won’t he want to try to keep Prince George working and a lot of money flowing there?”   No one on the panel could offer any speculation on what Mr. Pattison’s plans might be.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us