West Fraser Timber Co. says it's curtailing operations at Cariboo Pulp & Paper in Quesnel, B.C., beginning in mid-April for one month and then for another month in the third quarter. 

The Vancouver-based company says the decision is the result of a decline in availability of sawmill residuals, which it says is due to infestation, fire and government policy decisions.

West Fraser says the downtime at the Cariboo mill will help the company align its production capacity, though its plans may change if the fibre forecasts do.

The company says the mill expects to mitigate some of the impact on employees through vacation scheduling and alternative work assignments. 

The mill is jointly owned by West Fraser and Mercer International.

West Fraser announced in January that it was indefinitely curtailing its Perry Sawmill in Florida due to high fibre costs and softening lumber markets. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2023.