Millar Western to Temporarily Curtail Operations at Quesnel River Pulp in BC
 August 20, 2026 - Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Conservative Party of British Columbia — MLA Sheldon Clare, MLA Ward Stamer and MLA Kiel Giddens — posted the following announcement on August 12 about Quesnel River Pulp temporarily curtailing operations:
Quesnel River Pulp has announced the curtailing of operations until at least November, and nearly 100 more workers face an uncertain future under the NDP's (New Democratic Party, a federal political party in Canada) managed decline of our forestry industry.
Quesnel River Pulp has announced a temporary curtailment that affects 90 workers. And "temporary" could become permanent if market conditions remain unfavourable. Dozens of mills have already shut down and under the NDP there is no sign that market conditions will improve.
"This is devastating news for Quesnel," said Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo. "These are 90 good-paying jobs in a community that depends on forestry. The community would see a huge drop in economic benefit, and local government could see a significant drop in tax revenue. This curtailment will hurt people and businesses."
"Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar's idea of a 'transition' is nothing but the destruction of British Columbia's forestry industry," said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. "Mill workers, loggers, fallers and forestry families should not be forced to pay the price for a government that has abandoned them."
"Yet again, it is B.C. workers who pay the price for NDP policy failures," said Kiel Giddens, Shadow Minister for Labour. "The NDP talk a big game about protecting workers, but they are presiding over the demise of the industries that workers rely on. The B.C. Conservatives will not give up on workers, and we are committed to making B.C. forestry competitive once again and restoring lost opportunities."
SOURCE: Conservative Party of British Columbia
About Quesnel River Pulp
Located in Quesnel, British Columbia, the Quesnel River pulp mill produces 375,000 air-dried metric tonnes of softwood pulp per year. The mill is strategically located in one of British Columbia's key forestry regions and supplies premium pulp products to domestic and international markets. The mill is owned Atlas Holdings and operated by Millar Western (Source: Millar Western). |
|
Domtar Indefinitely Idling Howe Sound Pulp Mill and Bayview Fibre Chipping Facility in BC
 Aug. 21, 2026 - Domtar on Aug. 20 announced the indefinite idling of its affiliates' operations at both the Howe Sound pulp mill and Bayview Fibre chipping facility in Port Mellon, British Columbia, Canada.
The decision will remove approximately 380,000 metric tons of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp from the market annually.
The announcement will affect approximately 400 employees.
"Despite capital investment of nearly CAD$500 million since the mill was purchased in 2010, and the construction of the Bayview Fibre facility, the business cannot overcome reduced demand from Asia, unprecedented and sustained poor pricing for pulp globally, and a decline in affordable domestic fiber," said Luc Thériault, Domtar's President - Canada and CEO, Pulp and Wood Products.
"The business decision to indefinitely idle these facilities is the result of careful consideration and is not a reflection on the employees. The teams at Howe Sound and Bayview Fibre worked tirelessly to improve performance but current market conditions require this step," added Thériault.
"We recognize the hardship this decision will have on the employees of the facilities and the Sunshine Coast community as well as the coastal forest sector. The business will monitor market conditions, domestic fiber availability and the overall business environment, and will evaluate future opportunities if conditions improve," stated Thériault. "In the process of idling the facilities, the primary focus will be on the safety and well-being of the employees."
Domtar is a leading, privately held manufacturer of diversified forest products with locations across North America. The company manufactures pulp, paper, packaging and tissue, as well as lumber and other wood products.
SOURCE: Domtar |
Metsä Board Appoints Malin Nygren as VP, Husum Pulp and Board Mill
 June 24, 2026 - Metsä Board has appointed Malin Nygren as Vice President, Husum Pulp and Board Mill, effective 1 July 2026.
Nygren has been serving as interim Vice President since March 2026 and will now assume the role on a permanent basis.
The interim arrangement followed the appointment of Olov Winblad von Walter as VP, Operations Transformation. Metsä Board thanks Winblad von Walter for his valuable contribution and commitment during his time with the company and wishes him all the best as he leaves Metsä Board.
Nygren will continue to report to Laura Remes, SVP, Production and Supply Chain, and will be a member of Metsä Board's Operations Leadership Team.
Metsä Board is a producer of lightweight and high-quality folding boxboards, foodservice boards and white kraftliners.
SOURCE: Metsä Board |
Canfor to Permanently Close Its Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George
 July 15, 2026 – Canfor Corporation on July 14 announced the permanent closure of its Northwood pulp mill in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. This closure results in an annual reduction of about 300,000 tonnes of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) from Northwood.
Approximately 300 employees in Prince George are directly impacted.
In a press release, the company said, “The pulp and paper sector continues to face significant challenges, including a structural shift in global pulp markets. Substantial additional pulp production capacity has come online globally, creating an oversupply in the market and downward pressure on global pulp prices. Combined with the persistent challenges accessing fibre, these factors have resulted in a prolonged period of unsustainable financial losses for Canfor Pulp. With no foreseeable improvement in the outlook, Canfor has made the difficult decision to close its Northwood facility.”
Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO, Canfor, stated, “We recognize this is incredibly difficult news that will have a significant impact on our employees, their families, the businesses that support our operation, and the communities where we operate. This decision is in no way a reflection of the dedication or hard work of our employees. The team at Northwood has worked tirelessly to improve performance, navigating challenging conditions to support their operation and we are grateful for their efforts.
“In the weeks ahead, we are committed to supporting our employees through this transition, including providing severance, and exploring opportunities to redeploy impacted employees to our other operating locations where possible.”
The Northwood Pulp Mill will be following an orderly wind-down process and is expected to close in late Q4 2026, the company said.
Canfor Corp is a global leader in the manufacturing of high-value low-carbon forest products including dimension and specialty lumber, engineered wood products, pulp and paper, wood pellets and green energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canfor Corp produces renewable products from sustainably managed forests, at more than 50 facilities across its diversified operating platform in Canada, the United States and Europe.
SOURCE: Canfor Corporation |
International Forest Products Names Michael Majka as Director, Recovered Fiber
 June 23, 2026 - International Forest Products (IFP) announced the addition of Michael Majka as Director, Recovered Fiber.
Majka brings extensive experience in the forest products industry, with expertise ranging from domestic sales to export markets for all recovered fiber products. A third-generation member of his family with ties to the forest products industry, he previously held the role of Major Account Manager at Waste Management and most recently operated an export company focusing on sales into India and Southeast Asia.
At IFP, Majka will be focused on sourcing, purchasing, and managing the supply of recovered fiber grades across North America to support domestic and export demand. He will develop and manage relationships with MRFs, brokers, municipalities, and industrial generators.
“We are excited to welcome Michael to the IFP family,” said Daniel Kraft, President and Chief Executive Officer of IFP. “His industry knowledge, global market experience, and longstanding relationships throughout the recovered fiber sector will be valuable assets as we continued to grow our business around the globe.”
International Forest Products is a member of the Kraft Group of companies and is one of the largest traders of forest products commodities in the world. IFP provides solutions for sales and marketing, transportation and logistics, and finance for suppliers and converters.
SOURCE: International Forest Products |
|
|
