Carrier Lumber president Bill Kordyban said that Cheslatta Forest Products Ltd., located on the Southside would not be shutting up operations and relocating to Saskatchewan contrary to rumours.
The announcement that the mill would be closing its local operations and moving to Saskatchewan was made late last year by Village of Burns Lake Coun. John Illes to the mayor and council during a regular council meeting.
During councillor’s individual updates, Coun. Illes said that the mill was being relocated due to a lack of available hydro in the area and that he was very concerned about the negative impact hydro availability had on attracting any new businesses to the local area.
While Kordyban confirmed to Lakes District News that the mill would not be relocating, he did say, “The sawmill has not produced any lumber for quite some time and the planer has sporadically been planing the remaining inventory.”
“The partners will be meeting again in the near future for an update and to discuss future plans,” he added.
Due to the sensitivity of the subject Mike Robertson, senior policy advisor for Cheslatta Carrier Nation, who is a one third owner in the mill, declined to make any public comment until further details have been worked out.
