Millar Western indefinitely curtails Quesnel River Pulp mill operations

Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. will indefinitely curtail operations at its Quesnel River Pulp mill. The company cited market conditions and uncertainty surrounding economic fibre supply as the reasons for the decision.

Executive chair and CEO Karl Meyers communicated the move in a letter sent to employees on November 9. Meyers described the step as a "very difficult decision."

“The shutdown does not reflect on the skill or commitment of our people, but results from market conditions and other global factors outside employee control.”

The company will continue operating the effluent system for twelve months or until an acceptable alternative is reached. An orderly shutdown of the remaining operations will take place over the next several weeks to allow for a potential future restart.

Millar Western will terminate employment for all impacted workers and provide severance compensation and other support. Certain benefits will continue, and employees will have access to employee and family assistance resources.

Displaced employees may be considered for vacancies at other company operations. Workers who remain employed will have the period until their final day treated as working notice.

To qualify for severance, employees must remain active until their last scheduled day of work. Meyers said the shutdown does not reflect on the skill or commitment of staff but results from market conditions and global factors outside employee control.

Millar Western announced a temporary curtailment in August that was set to last until at least November. The company reviewed all alternatives before concluding that an indefinite curtailment was the only viable option at this time.