More than two hundred workers at Tolko’s Merritt facility received some disappointing news Thursday. The Vernon based forestry company announced their mill there will be closing “permanently” effective December 16.
“Following the recent reduction in the Annual Allowable Cut as a result of the completion of the Mountain Pine Beetle harvest, an extensive review of the wood supply for all or four Southern Interior operations was conducted,” Tolko CEO Brad Thorlakson said in a media release.
“Based on this review, we have determined there is not enough timber to supply all of our mills. This has resulted in the decision to permanently close our Nicola operation.”
No one from Tolko was available Friday to do an on camera interview on the shutdown.
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The president of the union local which represents workers at the mill called the closure “greatly disappointing.”
Marty Gibbons, president of United Steelworkers local 1-417, said he is spending part of Friday in the mill parking lot answering workers’ questions.
“It’s pretty sad around here, pretty depressed,” said Gibbons.
The union will be trying to get as many workers transferred within the company as possible. Gibbons is also hoping there will be government assistance to help the workers retrain.
“We hear lots of campaign promises and we would really like to see federal and provincial government up here in the community helping workers in need,” said Gibbons.
Tolko has promised to provide more details about what the mill closure will mean for employees in October.
“It is just a sad day,” said Gibbons.
“As a community it is going to be certainly tough. This is the biggest employer in town. There is another sawmill but they don’t employee anywhere near the numbers here.”