Kamloops-area mills could face closure within months, forestry critic Stamer says

Rubber and Wood  |  2026-09-21 00:10:04   |   By

He warned that more mills, potentially including those in the Kamloops area, could close within three to four months if markets remain soft.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): More Interior mills could close within months as B.C.'s forestry sector struggles with permitting delays and limited timber access, according to Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer.

His warning follows a letter to Premier David Eby calling for urgent action on permitting delays, U.S. tariffs and other challenges facing the industry.

The letter was signed by groups representing contractors, manufacturers and unions, including the BC Council of Forest Industries, BC First Nations Forestry Council and Truck Loggers Association.

The coalition wants the province to form a crisis group to cut costs, remove regulatory barriers and increase B.C.'s economically viable annual harvest from a projected 29 million cubic metres to 45 million cubic metres.

While acknowledging that U.S. trade pressures are outside the province's control, the groups argued B.C. can address domestic costs, regulations, permitting delays and fibre-access decisions affecting the industry's viability.

The province said in August that it was exploring a 'working forest landscape' model to identify areas where logging would be prioritized, with the goal of increasing the economically viable harvest to 45 million cubic metres annually.

Sounding the mill alarm

Stamer, a B.C. Conservative MLA and the Opposition critic for forestry, told Castanet he is concerned the province has yet to announce any meetings in response to the letter.

He pointed to the recent closures of Domtar's Howe Sound pulp mill and Canfor's Northwood mill as signs the industry is struggling.

'Once a pulp mill goes down, it usually drags two or three sawmills and value added [chips] along with it,' Stamer said.

He warned that more mills, potentially including those in the Kamloops area, could close within three to four months if markets remain soft.

Stamer said the government needs to streamline permitting while maintaining First Nations consultation.

'They've overcomplicated it, add all the additional consultation and approvals with First Nations, and now you're in a situation where a lot of times it doesn't get done,' he said.

Stamer said permitting timelines could be shortened and more advance work could be done to prepare wildfire-affected areas for cutting while fires are still burning.

'Aspen Planers is screaming for fibre in Merritt, and they've been shut down for a year,' Stamer said.

He said the company should be able to access dead wood before it becomes unusable.

'Industry's telling me, behind the scenes, there's a lot of fibre that we could be accessing right now and, for whatever reason, the government's just taking their time to try to get through the process,' Stamer said.

Courtesy: www.castanetkamloops.net