Tolko to shut down Merritt lumber mill

September 23, 2016 - 11:37 AM By Brendan Kergin INFONews.ca
MERRITT - Tolko Industries is shutting down its Merritt lumber mill just nine days before Christmas. On Dec. 16 the mill, which employs 203 people, will be shut down, according to the Vernon-based company's senior general manager of lumber Troy Connolly. “This a permanent closure,” Connolly says. Tolko has been operating the mill since 1987. The closure is due to a significant reduction in the annual allowable cut in the southern interior, he says. The provincial government announced reduced allowable cut numbers near Merritt and Kamloops in the spring. Simply put the available lumber supply for mills is down, Connolly says, it’s not a reflection on the employees or business. Connolly says Tolko will be working with employees on a case-by-case basis. Some will be offered severance packages while others may stay with the company in different locations. “We need to work with employs to find out if they are able to (move)... and if we have vacancies that fit their skill set,” he says. Tolko has three other lumber mills in Southern B.C. and two plywood plants. All other Tolko operations are stable and won’t be affected by the Merritt mill’s closure, Connolly says. One mill is outside of Kelowna while a plywood plant is near Heffley Creek outside of Kamloops. “Our intent is to maintain operations as they are in our other operations,” he says. For now Tolko will be holding on to the Merritt property. Decisions haven’t been made on it’s future yet. Connolly says the company wanted to notify the employees early so that they can plan. It will be shut down in December and decisions on the property and equipment inside will follow. As the mill is inside city limits it will affect taxes collected by the City of Merritt. The company will also be talking to contractors with the mill on how it will affect their partnerships. “They need to plan their businesses accordingly,” he says. “Clearly the ones based in Merritt are the ones that will be the most impacted." Suppliers and other impacted businesses are promised more information from Tolko in a couple weeks.

Tolko mill sold

By Deborah Pfeiffer - CASTANET Nov 12, 2016 / 4:11 pm
Tolko Industries Ltd. announced this week that Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Limited, a company affiliated with American Industrial Acquisition Corporation, has purchased its Manitoba Kraft paper mill and sawmill in The Pas. As part of the agreement, all current Manitoba employees will transition to Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Limited and maintain operations going forward. Over the coming months, Tolko, a forest products company based out of Vernon, will work with Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Limited to support a successful transition. “We are pleased negotiations with Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Limited have reached a successful conclusion," said Brad Thorlakson, president and CEO of Tolko. "I want to thank the employees at the Manitoba operation for their dedication and patience throughout this process, and to the retirees for their support of the sale.” He added they also want to acknowledge the critical role that the Swampy Cree Tribal Council played in enabling this sale and recognize the Manitoba Government, the Town of The Pas and local unions for their cooperation and work towards making this sale happen.

Buyer Found for Tolko Plant

Posted on 9/27/2016 6:19 AM by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM
Vernon's Tolko Industries has a potential buyer for it's pulp and paper mill in The Pas, Manitoba. Vice-President Jim Baskerville, says a letter of intent has been signed...so an important first step has been taken. Baskerville does add though that nothing is guaranteed. Tolko announced in August is was closing the mill December 2nd...a move that would leave over 300 people without work.
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Also see http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/tolko-buyer-the-pas-1.3780386

No Tolko Shutdown Worries Here

Posted on 9/26/2016 7:14 AM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The MLA for Vernon Monashee doesn't think the Tolko mills in the North Okanagan could suffer a similar fate as the one in Merritt. Tolko will be closing its sawmill in Merritt in December, putting 200 people out of work, which MLA Eric Foster says is a result of a lack of logs due to the pine beetle epidemic. "We are very very fortunate in this area. We had the pine beetle obviously affect us, but it may up such a low percentage of our profile relative to what it certainly did to Merritt and in the Cariboo where it was huge." "A big part of it is due to the fact that we didn't get hit in this area with the pine beetle as bad simply because we didn't have as much pine as a percentage of our profile. It only made up about 28% of the profile here." Foster has been told by Tolko officials the mills in Lavington, Armstrong, and Lumby are secure for the forseable future. What has happened in Merritt is a direct result of the pine beetle, so with not enough logs to supply both mills there, one of them had to shut down. I had a long talk with the Tolko people to get the numbers on it. Some of the wood now will be coming to the Lavington Sawmill, some to Kelowna and some to Kamloops, that already is getting some of that wood."

Mill closing, 203 jobs lost

by Carmen Weld - CASTANET Sep 22, 2016 / 7:12 pm
Tolko Industries says the pine beetle has forced it to close its Nicola Valley operation in Merritt, putting 203 employees out of work. Tolko announced Thursday that it will permanently close its Merritt operation on December 16th, 2016. “Making the decision to close an operation is never easy,” said Brad Thorlakson, president and CEO. “Following the recent reduction in the annual allowable cut as a result of the completion of the pine beetle harvest, an extensive review of the wood supply for all of our Southern Interior operations was conducted. 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.” Tolko said employees were informed of the decision on Thursday. “Today we have issued notice to employees, and we are working through the details of a transition package," said Mike Harkies, executive vice president of Solid Wood. “We anticipate full details to be available to employees the week of October 10th.” Thorlakson added that the closure of this mill will result in the removal of 250-million board feet of capacity from the lumber market. Despite this news, he said the company his family has owned since 1956 remains well positioned for future success. “We are focused on making decisions that ensure our long term success. As a company, we are very well positioned due to our geographic and product diversification.” Tolko purchased the Nicola Valley operation in 1987.
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Also see http://www.1075kiss.com/top-news-stories/2016/09/22/tolko-to-close-merritt-mill

Tolko back in business

J.P. SQUIRE The Daily Courier  2011-07-19  
Tolko Industries returned to full production Monday, thanks to construction in sunny, warm Eastern Canada.  "We‘re back at full operation at the Lumby and Armstrong facilities as well as the fourth shift at our facility in Kamloops, Heffley Creek," said Larry Broadfoot, general manager of lumber and plywood sales.  Due to continuing poor market conditions, the company temporarily curtailed panel production during the weeks of July 4 and 11, affecting 260 employees and reducing Tolko‘s plywood production by about 10 million square feet.  When the layoffs were announced at White Valley division‘s veneer operation in Lumby, Armstrong‘s plywood operation and the fourth plywood shift in Heffley Creek, Broadfoot indicated markets would be reviewed at the end of the scheduled downtime to determine if extensions were required.  "Unfortunately, in this market, that is an ongoing issue," he said Monday. "There has been sufficient strengthening, mainly in Eastern Canada.  "Unlike the Okanagan, they‘ve had much better weather. So we‘ve seen the markets in Eastern Canada pick up a bit better so that‘s helped us a lot. "I‘m optimistic that we should be good for the near term. Unfortunately, the world economy has more to do with it than what I can do sitting in this office. We‘re definitely watching it and we‘re optimistic." Since Canada is the main market for Tolko‘s plywood products, "this sector has been particularly impacted by the unusually cold, wet spring, and the related low construction activity," Broadfoot said earlier.Tolko Industries Ltd., a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, has approximately 3,200 employees. It is a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) and kraft papers with manufacturing operations across Western Canada.

Tolko Shutdowns Impact 260 Staff

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM  Wednesday, 22 June 2011 09:42

Slow lumber markets are taking a toll at several plywood and saw mills in the Okanagan and Kamloops areas.  Tolko Industries says its Lumby, Armstrong and  Heffley Creek (near Kamloops) operations will be shutdown for several weeks this summer.  The curtailments are set for weeks of July 4th and 11th, with a possible restart on the 18th.  The company says an extension of the closures may be considered if markets don't pick up.  Closures of the three plants will affect a total of 260 Tolko employees and cut the company's plywood production by 10-million board feet.  Larry Broadfoot, GM of lumber and plywood sales says, "With Canada being the main market for our plywood products, this sector has been particularly impacted by the unusually cold, wet spring, and the related low construction activity."

Tolko supplies materials for Habitat project

October 22, 2010 11:00 PM Kelowna Capital News:
 Framing is underway at Habitat for Humanity Kelowna’s newest affordable housing project with help from Tolko Industries Ltd. The company is providing a lumber and sheathing package for use in a duplex on the Westside.  Habitat for Humanity volunteers are working to build the duplex side-by-side with the low-income families who will purchase the homes. “Our volunteers told me that Tolko’s OSB panels are easy to work with,” remarked project coordinator Ken Kunka, of Flywheel Building Solutions.  This project is the first of two duplexes to be built on the Westside and will be ready for occupancy in early spring of 2011. “We greatly appreciate Tolko’s enthusiastic support of this project,” said Lona Manning, executive director.“By helping us keep our costs down, more of the proceeds from the home sale can go toward building more affordable housing. Tolko’s donation is a gift that keeps on giving.” “We are very pleased to be part of this worthwhile community project,” added Jonathan Rogers, acting vice-president, marketing and sales. “This is a perfect fit for our business, in addition to being an opportunity to contribute back to the region where so many of our employees live and work.”

This partnership with Habitat for Humanity renews a relationship that grew in 2006, following donations and a team of Tolko employees who travelled to take part in the international association’s rebuild efforts near New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Habitat for Humanity Kelowna is a part of the  international Habitat for Humanity movement.The volunteer-run organization has built 17 homes in  Kelowna since 1992. The homes are sold to low-income working families with children. Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon. Tolko produces lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board, and craft papers for customers around the world.

Tolko Continues Slowdown

Glen Morrison Friday, 03 September 2010 09:17

Workers at Tolko's Armstrong and Williams Lake stud mills will stay off the job for a third straight week. Armstrong site manager Pat Donnelly says the 315 workers are caught in market conditions. "We are continuing to monitor the market and the take-away has not been good. The U-S housing market has not come back the way everybody had hoped it would." The workers have now been off the job since mid August.

More Down Time For Tolko

Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 17 August 2010 16:38107.5 KISSFM

Poor market conditions are causing another two week curtailment at a pair of Tolko mills. The Vernon based forest products company will curtail production at its stud mills in Armstrong and Williams Lake (Soda Creek), from August 23rd until September 7th. About 315 employees will be affected. Armstrong site manager Pat Donnelly says they regret the impact on their employees, adding the restart will depend on product demand improving. Tolko also curtailed its plywood operation in Armstrong for two weeks earlier this summer. Photo: Tolko's Armstrong Division

Tolko Resumes Production

Glen Morrison Monday, 26 July 2010 03:36 107.5 KISSFM:

Tolko's brought the Armstrong plywood plant on line again, putting 140 staff back to work. The shutdown started July 5th as a reaction to poor markets. Manager Pat Donnely says at this point they're running specialty product rather the the usual.He says they can't guarantee they won't be forced to close again for a period of time.

Mill Fire Alert Ended

Peter McIntyre Monday, 12 July 2010 14:20 107.5 KISSFM:

Residents of five mobile home parks in the area near the Tolko sawmill south of Armstrong, have been allowed to return home, a day after being ordered out. An evacuation order for the 200 homes was downgraded to an alert, but all orders and alerts were recinded by the municipality as of 3pm. About 300 residents were ordered out Sunday afternoon due to smoke and fire danger after a sawdust and wood chip pile ignited at the mill. Armstrong deputy fire chief Alester Crick told a news conference, fire crews were able to contain the flames to a hog pile and log yard, although an old Tolko lunch room and D-8 tractor were destroyed. "The amazing work with Tolko getting the fuel out of the way has enabled us to declare the fire not being out but under control. The fire will be burning in the ground and in the hog fuel pile for quite a while but it will be a case of monitoring with local resources rather than using extensive outside resources."

Crick hasn't had time to officially investigate the cause but he suspects it was spontaneous combustion, something he says happenes at a lot of mills. "One of the problems with hog fuel, being kind of a wood product, is that it's out there in the open and in the elements. It gets wet and moist and starts breaking down with bacteria and you get smouldering fires developing into open fires." Tolko's site manager Pat Donnelly had no estimate of the loss but says the log damage won't cause further curtailments of production. "We have ongoing processes to monitor and for removing and dealing with the hog fuel.We work very hard to ensure this doesn't happen (but) fires do occur in hog piles."

RCMP Sgt Dave Evans says the highway was closed until early this morning due to the danger of the smoke and fire, causing major delays for motorists. "It was very lengthy and we did a lot of evaluating of that. We had a lot of concern about routing highway traffic onto Otter Lake Road, a narrow winding country road, but it was deemed unsafe for traffic to travel through the mill site area with the air attack, the fire crews and the limited visibility."

Armstrong Tolko Fire July 2010

Latest on Mill Fire, Photos

Written by Peter McIntyre Sunday, 11 July 2010 22:07 107.5 KISSFM

A fire at the Tolko sawmill in Spallumcheen led to a long day---and night--- for local fire crews and for hundreds of residents. Close to 200 homes were evacuated Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out in the sawdust and bark hog pile which was fanned by the winds and spread to the log pile. Tolko crews were unable to contain it and several fire crews and the BC Forest Service were called in and worked it through the day and night. Emergency Program coordinator Brent Watson says the blaze was contained to the mill site and there was no direct fire threat to the surrounding homes. "We've issued an evacuation order for the five mobile home parks around the mill simply as a public health safety issue. The smoke is quite thick and we want to make sure the residents are not being impacted in an adverse way by that smoke." Nearby Valley Auction may have had some fire damage but the extent isn't known.

Spallumcheen mayor Will Hansma enacted a state of local emergency, calling on evacuees to report to the Centennial Hall in Armstrong. "It means they are under a caution and they need to the report to the emergency centre and make sure everyone is accounted for as a precaution." Hansma hopes the order can be lifted sometime on Monday. "The fire itself, they're managing it really well. The crews are doing an unbelievable job." Crews from Armstrong-Spallumcheen, Vernon, Enderby and BX Swan Lake were involved along with air crews from the Forest Service. Hansma was near the fire scene all afternoon and into the night. "It's just one great big massive fire (as of 9pm). The log yard is on fire behind the office. It's all fire, everything is burning. It's going like crazy here." No word on the cause yet, but the Forest Service says human activity is suspected.

Tolko's Rob Fraser says a number of log piles have been lost and others continue to burn but there were no injuries and no structures appear to be damaged. Highway 97A was closed down soon after the fire, causing major traffic delays for people trying to get to and from Armstrong and Kamloops.

Top photo: Police block Highway 97A as a fire rages at Tolko mill

Bottom: Water bombing plane attacks the Tolko fire (P.McIntyre)

Police Issue Mill Fire Update/ News Release from Tolko

107.5 Kiss FM Sunday, 11 July 2010 19:41

RCMP have issued a news release on the fire at the Tolko Mill south of Armstrong. Sgt Dave Evans says police received a call to at 3:20 to assist in the fire. The large chip pile, commonly referred to as the Hog Pile, located just North of the mill building ignited. Tolko Mill responded to the fire but with the high winds the fire quickly grew in size and began to spread to the log yard North of the mill and hog pile. Numerous area fire departments, including Armstrong Spall, Vernon, Enderby, and BX Swan Lake were called to respond along with Forest Services. The fire is being fought by ground crews and air support from helicopters and fixed wing water bombers putting both water and fire retardant on the area.

Current Status:
The fire continues to burn in the hog pile and log yard. There has been no structural damage to the Tolko Mill at this point. The cause of the fire has not been formally investigated at this point and as such a cause for the fire can not be released. Visibility is greatly reduced in the area because of heavy smoke. An Emergency Operations Center involving all agencies involved has been established to respond to the incident that is expected to continue into the late evening and perhaps beyond.

Evacuations:
The RCMP and Search and Rescue have evacuated the Valley Auction facility to the North of the location and four area mobile home parks (Twin Furs, Belvas, Meadow Ridge, and Pallisades). An Emergency Social Services Reception Center has been established at Centenial Hall on Pleasant Valley Road in Armstrong. Over 100 persons have checked in so far and is expected to continue into the evening.

Road Closure:
Highway 97A between Smith Drive in Armstrong and intersection with Highway 97 at the Swan Lake junction to Kamloops is closed in both directions with alternate routes established and directions available at check points. Time frames of road closures are not known at this time. Ministry of Transportation will update web site with information as it becomes available.


Tolko Industries is in the process of preparing a media release and will advise of same and contact persons in the near future.

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107.5 Kiss FM Sunday, 11 July 2010 20:15 News Release from Tolko

Crews fight fire at Tolko Sawmill at Armstrong

[VERNON, BC] July 11, 2010-Crews continue to fight a fire at Tolko's sawmill site near Armstrong, BC. The fire began in a hogpile, which is sawdust and bark, at approximately 2 pm. Winds pushed the flames into the logyard and outside assistance was called in. A number of log piles have been lost and others continue to burn. There have been no injuries and no structures appear to be damaged. Winds are currently low and blowing north, away from the mill. "We appreciate the quick response by both our employee fire fighting crew and a number of area jurisdictions," said Rob Fraser, General Manager, Okanagan Operations. Several fire departments, including Armstrong Spallumcheen, Vernon, Enderby, and BX Swan Lake responded along with Forest Services. Ground crews and air support from helicopters and fixed wing water bombers are putting both water and fire retardant on the area.RCMP have evacuated the Valley Auction site to the north and four nearby trailer parks. Highway closure remains in affect. Smoke remains heavy and response crews anticipate to be fighting the fire several more hours. Sawmill crews have been informed that operation is suspended. Mobile equipment on site and from near by divisions will be utilized in the fire fighting effort as needed.

at Tolko plant near Vernon

Published: July 11, 2010 4:00 PM Vernon Morning Star A sawdust and log pile are on fire at a Tolko Industries plant near Vernon. Fire crews are currently on scene at the plant, which is north of Swan Lake. According to witnesses, the fire started at the plant's sawdust pile sometime between 2 and 3 p.m. The wind then blew the flames into a nearby log pile, which is around 40 feet high and 20 metres long. The plant's mill, which is south of the fire, has not been affected. The wind is blowing hard from the south, which is keeping the fire away from the mill and auction. More information as it becomes available.
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Updated: July 11, 2010 5:16 PM

A sawdust and log pile are on fire at the Armstrong Tolko Industries plant. Fire crews from the Enderby and Silverstar departments are on scene at the plant, which is around 15 kilometres north of Vernon beside Highway 97A. A helicopter and air tanker are also on scene. According to the Vernon fire department, the fire started at the plant's sawdust pile around 2:41 p.m. The wind then blew the flames into a nearby log pile, which is around 40 feet high and 20 metres long, said a witness. The plant's mill, which is south of the fire, has not been affected. It has been reported the wind is blowing hard from the south, which is keeping the fire away from the mill and auction. Vernon fire department Captain Paul Pshyk said there is a great deal of smoke being directed into the nearby trailer park, and it is possible the park is being evacuated.An area of Highway 97 near the plant has been closed.

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100 homes evacuated after Armstrong sawmill catches fire Andrea Woo, Vancouver Sun July 11, 2010 8:14 PM

VANCOUVER - At least 100 homes were evacuated Sunday after a large fire started in a hog fuel pile at a Tolko sawmill in Armstrong. The B.C. Ministry of Forests was called around 3 p.m. Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper said he saw a plume of smoke around 4 p.m. and drove to the scene. “It was a big fire,” Pieper said. “It’s not a little fire. The hog fuel pile — the bark debris from the barking operations — that was what was on fire. There were some logs from the log yard on fire as well. I didn’t see any buildings on fire.” The flames spread into several spot fires, but the smaller ones were quickly extinguished, said Brent Watson, emergency management coordinator for Vernon Fire Rescue Services. RCMP evacuated one trailer park on Highway 97A in the late afternoon and closed a five-kilometre section of the highway in both directions. By early evening, the evacuation had expanded to five trailer parks, totalling about 100 homes, said Watson. The Ministry of Forests was on the scene with 11 firefighters, two helicopters and fixed-wing air tankers. The RCMP and firefighters from surrounding detachments, including Vernon, Swan Lake and Enderby, also battled the blaze. An emergency centre was set up at Spallumcheen municipal hall. The fire was contained but still burning at press time and fire crews were expected to stay on the scene throughout the night, said Watson.Canadian-owned Tolko Industries Ltd. is a major producer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board and kraft papers.

Tolko curtails mill activities

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 24, 2010 6:00 PM

Some workers at Tolko Industries’ Armstrong division are getting an unexpected summer break. The Vernon-based company has announced the division’s plywood operation will take market-related downtime for a minimum of one week starting July 5. That impacts 150 employees. “We’ve had a pretty good run for a couple of months but we’re now building volume and there’s no take away,” said Pat Donnelly, Armstrong division site manager, of a lack of sales. Much of the upheaval in the market is a result of trends south of the border. “U.S. housing starts are down,” said Donnelly, adding that Tolko must adjust its operations in response to customer demand. “With the economic period we are going through, we will see significant ups and downs and we have to manage the best way we can.” Plywood production is scheduled to resume July 12 but that will depend on market conditions at the time.“It could be longer, definitely,” said Donnelly.

“Customers can be conservative and then they can jump in and purchase a couple of blocks.” Donnelly admits that the decision to cease operations temporarily wasn’t an easy one to make. “We regret the impact this will have on our employees and their families,” he said, adding that it’s not a result of anything the workers have done. “We acknowledge and thank our employees for their continuing hard work to improve productivity during this period of volatile product prices.” Beyond individual employees, Donnelly points out that the downtime has a negative impact on the company. “If you’re not running the facility, you have got a capital investment you’re not using,” he said. Tolko Industries is a private company with more than 3,500 employees in Western Canada, including in Armstrong, Lavington and Lumby.It’s a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board, and kraft papers, with manufacturing operations.

TOLKO REACHES MAJOR LUMBER AGREEMENT WITH CHINA

May 16, 2010 SHANGHAI –

Tolko Industries Ltd. has signed another major purchase agreement with China National Building Materials as the market for B.C. forest products continues to grow at a steady rate in 2010, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today. “I congratulate Tolko Industries Ltd. on this agreement, which is yet another example of how the trade relationship between the B.C. forest industry and China just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” said Premier Campbell. “Lumber demand from housing officials, developers, and construction firms is at an all-time high in China. They want to do more and more business with us because China knows B.C. softwood products are good for the environment, cost-effective, and highly adaptable. China National Building Materials is the country’s number one lumber distributor to China’s construction industries. They now have two separate agreements with Tolko that combined are equivalent to two full mills’ production and will support 400 mill and woodland jobs. Tolko signed its first major supply agreement with China National Building Materials in November 2009 as part of the largest-ever forest industry trade mission to China led by Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. The volume for this agreement is mostly to be supplied by Tolko’s Quesnel operation. This latest agreement will be filled by other Tolko operations. “The co-operation between the B.C. forest industry and governments to promote wood use in China are key to the success we’re seeing today,” said Tolko president and CEO Brad Thorlakson. “We look forward to a long relationship with China National Building Materials.” These agreements are for spruce-pine-fir lumber in a full range of grades and dimensions. China National Building Materials will distribute the lumber throughout China for a range of end-uses including concrete forms, remanufactured products for the apartment decorating and furniture markets, structural framing, and re-roofing projects.

Board’s actions raise criticism

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 24, 2010 12:00 PM

A public agency is being accused of interfering in a heated logging dispute. Wayne Lippert, a North Okanagan Regional District director, questions why the Okanagan Basin Water Board wrote a letter to the provincial government on logging in the Browns Creek watershed. “I don’t think that it’s the mandate of OBWB to get involved in a matter like that,” said Lippert referring to the conflict between the Okanagan Indian Band and Tolko Industries over logging. “The dispute between the band and Tolko is a legal dispute and a provincial matter.” Rick Fairbairn, OBWB vice-chairman, says the board decided to write a letter to John Slater, parliamentary secretary for water supply, after receiving a request from the Okanagan Indian Band to do so. “The board’s mandate is to promote water quality and access to water and that was the intent of the letter,” said Fairbairn. “I felt that with a very generic letter, a response could go out. We had to keep in mind the neutrality of OBWB.”

Buffy Baumbrough, an OBWB director, denies the agency is taking sides in the dispute on the west side of Okanagan Lake. “Our mandate is protection of water quality and quantity and we wanted to speak to that,” she said. “We didn’t respond to political issues and we made that very clear. We are simply reminding the government that activities in watersheds should not impact water quality.” The motion adopted by OBWB members March 2 states, “That the Okanagan Basin Water Board send a letter requesting the province to carefully evaluate the concerns of the OKIB in the Browns Creek with respect to logging and other activity in their community watershed, and ensure that the band’s community water supply is protected.” Lippert believes Tolko has followed best practices when it comes to harvesting, and has followed provincial regulations. “It’s an important business and it provides jobs for all of our communities,” he said, adding that the Okanagan Basin Water Board shouldn’t have got involved. “It wasn’t the right place to be stepping into. It was unwise.”

Tolko delays harvesting of Brown's Creek

by Castanet Staff - Story: Mar 6, 2010 / 9:00 am

Tolko Industries Ltd. has decided to delay harvesting in the Brown's Creek area - for now. "The OKIB's continuing blockade, in defiance of B.C. Supreme Court orders, has caused us to miss our operating window for winter harvesting operations on frozen snow conditions," says Mark Tamas, Okanagan Woodlands Regional Manager. "The RCMP have been in discussions with both Tolko and the OKIB about the continuing blockades, but there has been no meaningful progress to date," Tamas says. "We now do not expect to harvest in the area until the snow has melted. This spring we will complete the additional snow-free fieldwork outlined in our Court-approved Archaeological plan." "In addition to the 50,000 m3 of timber currently covered by the court injunction, we will also provide to both government and the OKIB our specific plans for 2010 operations," says Tamas. "This includes the next group of approved cutting permits and other volumes impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic in the Brown's Creek area."

Tamas says Tolko remains open to "meaningful meetings" with OKIB to try and resolve the issue. Tolko has a court-issued injunction and enforcement order to allow access to our legally approved cutting permits. "Throughout this dispute we have followed the orders of the Court and we expect the OKIB to do the same when we return to logging as soon as ground conditions are suitable," says Tamas.