Jim Girvan

The current wave of sawmill closures and curtailments rippling through B.C. had been expected for at least a decade. But few expected that wave to hit so fast and furious. In recent weeks, B.C. forestry companies have announced the closure of four sawmills, and several have eliminated, or plan to eliminate, shifts at mills that are still operating. …Jim Girvan, a forestry consultant who estimated in 2010 that 16 Interior lumber, veneer and plywood mills would shut down in B.C. by 2019 – which is exactly how many did – more recently predicted in May that another 13 mills will have to go. Since his May prediction, four mill closures have been announced, which mean nine will follow before long if his projections are correct. And because B.C.’s forestry sector is so highly integrated, the next wave of plant closures could be pulp mills and other processors that use wood waste from nearby sawmills.