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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:
June 6, 2003
Tolko announces curtailments
Vernon, BC – Tolko Industries announced today
that its lumber operation in Merritt, BC will be shut down from
June 16, 2003 until July 1, 2003.
Jim Baskerville, Area Manager at the Merritt plant,
says a combination of factors has forced the curtailment. “It
wasn’t an easy decision to make to curtail production but
the punishing duties imposed by the US have been exacerbated by
a rising Canadian dollar and the lowest lumber prices in a decade.
The efforts of our employees over the last few months have been
instrumental in enabling us to continue full operation until now
and we appreciate all their efforts.”
In addition, Tolko’s Louis Creek Division, located
near Barriere, BC, will not be recalling its third shift in the
sawmill. The third shift was taken off on May 30, 2003 and the mill
has been operating on a two-shift basis since that time. “We
are also looking at the possibility of a two-week production curtailment
during the first two weeks of July, 2003,” says Vern Parkstrom,
Louis Creek Area Manager. “We’ll evaluate this possibility
on a daily basis over the next weeks before we make a final decision.”
Vern also commended the efforts of the employees at Louis Creek
who have been diligent in keeping costs down and efficiencies up
so the mill could continue to operate at full capacity until now.
Another contributing factor impacting both the Merritt
and Louis Creek operations is the high log costs experienced at
both mills.
Mike Harkies, General Manager BC Operations, says
the rest of Tolko’s lumber mills will continue to operate
normally for the time being but will be monitored closely.
For more information:
Jim Baskerville
Area Manager, Merritt, BC
Phone: 250-378-2224
Vern Parkstrom
Area Manager, Louis Creek, BC.
Phone: 250-672-9911
Mike Harkies
General Manager, BC Operations
Phone: 250-545-4992
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