More downtime for Tolko

Workers at the Tolko mills in Armstrong and Williams Lake will be getting more unwanted downtime.

According to a media release, the Vernon-based company will extend the downtime at the mills for an additional two weeks due to poor market conditions.

That means workers will have been off for a total of four weeks, going back to work around June 21, according to the company.

One-hundred and fifty people work in the lumber mill at the Armstrong division.

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“As the recent rash of curtailments and closure announcements indicates, current market and cost conditions are making it difficult to operate in B.C.,” Troy Connolly, a vice president with the company, said. “And, with significant increases to stumpage rates set to take effect in July of this year, we expect conditions to remain challenging.”

An additional 16 million board feet of capacity will be removed from Tolko’s lumber production as a result of the announcement.

Connolly said he knows it is a difficult time for employees at the impacted mills, but said the company wanted to let people know as soon as possible.

“These decisions are difficult. As a family-owned and operated business, we’re proud of our communities and our employees. While we prefer to remain operational, industry conditions are challenging right now, and we want our people and their families to have time to prepare,” he said.