West Fraser shuts Quesnel sawmill for 7 days over poor log supply

Posted on December 4, 2024   |  

West Fraser plans to shut down one of its four Quesnel, BC, facilities for seven days at the end of the year, impacting the Quesnel Sawmill.

The closure will affect about 280 workers, and the company attributes it to a shortage of logs.

Timber supply in British Columbia has dropped due to wildfires, pest outbreaks, policy decisions, and restricted land access, despite plenty of trees in the region.

West Fraser faces challenges sourcing logs from the open market, which has been difficult this year.

Employees can choose to use vacation days for pay during the closure, while only a few will remain on duty at the mill.