Canfor has announced the permanent closure of its Chetwynd, B.C. operations, as well as a temporary closure of its Houston sawmill. The company said shutting its Chetwynd sawmill and pellet plant is part of what it calls a restructuring of operations in the province, while the temporary closure of its sawmill in Houston is part of a restructuring focused on manufacturing. Though the company did not say how many jobs would be cut, the union representing workers at both locations estimated at least 400 people would be out of a job. Bromley said 120 people work at the Chetwynd sawmill, about 300 kilometres northeast of Prince George, while 280 are employed in Houston, about 300 kilometres west of the same city. Jobs will also be cut at the Chetwynd pellet plant. …Canfor says it will wind down both Chetwynd and Houston operations sometime this spring, removing approximately 750 million board feet of annual production capacity.

Additional coverage in the Vancouver Sun by David Carrigg: Canfor closes Chetwynd sawmill and pellet plant