Northern Alberta sawmill closed indefinitely, at least 290 jobs cut:company

Canadian Press Online: 26/11/2009 6:48 PM

VERNON, B.C. - A northern Alberta sawmill is again closing indefinitely, throwing roughly 290 of its employees out of work. Tolko Industries Ltd., based in Vernon, B.C., has announced that its lumber division in High Level, Alta., is closing. The mill initially closed in February, but reopened later in the year. Sheri Greeno, a company spokeswoman, says another 300 contractors will also be affected by this latest closure. There are enough logs to allow the sawmill to operate until Dec. 18, though some employees will be able to stay on until mid-January. Company vice-president Mike Harkies says the move comes amid some of the worst market conditions the forestry industry has ever seen.