Western Forest Products says it will curtail all operations at its Chemainus sawmill next week, sidelining 150 employees for an indefinite period. The company said the curtailment, set to start June 18, is due to market challenges that include weaker lumber demand and higher US softwood lumber duties, as well as a lack of available viable log supplies. The company also blamed market conditions and a lack of log supplies for a similar shutdown in the spring of last year. Western Forest Products’ other mills at Duke Point, Ladysmith, Saltair and Cowichan Bay, and a value-added remanufacturing plant in Chemainus, will continue to operate, said Babita Khunkhun, senior director of communications for Western Forest Products. She said there is no end date for the curtailment at the Chemainus mill at this point, as the company monitors conditions. The mayor of North Cowichan said he was initially told 55 workers were facing layoffs.