Carrier Forest Products Ltd. says ongoing challenges in the forestry sector led to the decision to curtail operations at the Big River Sawmill.

The announcement was made Thursday morning to the 117 employees at the facility, located about 130 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.

A curtailment means workers retain their seniority and will get their jobs back if the mill re-opens in a certain period of time. The company noted the recent decline in the Canadian dollar is significantly increasing the cost of cross-border financing, as well as the impact last year’s wildfires have on reducing the timber volumes available to the Big River Mill.

Production will cease October 16th with some limited activity until the end of January.  Carrier states that management remains committed to reviewing all options to resume operations in the future.

Clint Panter is the Reeve for the RM of Big River.

The Big River Mill was shuttered in 2006 and remained idle until purchased by Carrier Forest Products, which refurbished the operation and resumed production in May 2014.

(above photo-Government of Saskatchewan)