Carrier Forest Products holds grand reopening of 250 mmbf/year Big River sawmill in Saskatchewan; mill will account for more than 40% of province's lumber production capacity, help Saskatchewan regain market share in US and Asia, says premier

Audrey Dixon

REGINA, Saskatchewan , May 13, 2014 (press release) – Premier Brad Wall and Economy Minister Bill Boyd participated in the grand reopening of the Big River saw mill today. The mill is the largest in the province and will directly employ up to 100 workers.

“This marks another major milestone in the recovery of our forest industry,” Wall said. “I would like to extend my congratulations to Carrier Forest Products on the reopening of this mill. The Big River saw mill will account for more than 40 per cent of Saskatchewan’s lumber production capacity and will help us to regain our market share in the United States and Asian countries.”

The saw mill produces dimensional lumber and has an annual production capacity of 250 million board feet. Through multiplier effects, more than 250 additional jobs are expected to be created through contracts in timber harvesting, trucking, road construction and reforestation.

“We are pleased with the support from the Government of Saskatchewan in working to ensure a long-term timber supply and facilitating educational assistance of $500,000 for skilled labour and operator training,” Carrier Forest Products President Bill Kordyban said. “We will soon be hiring for our second planer shift which will enable us to reach full capacity.”

The forest industry has experienced a substantial improvement over the last year. The sector generated $650 million in forest product sales in 2013. Mill owners have reopened seven of 11 mills in Saskatchewan which are running at various stages of production.

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