Millar Western Forest Products will temporarily curtail production at its Quesnel River Pulp facility in British Columbia from September 4 until at least November 1, 2026, citing unfavourable market conditions.

The shutdown will affect approximately 90 workers at the Quesnel, B.C., facility, adding to uncertainty surrounding the forest products industry in the province’s Interior.

The curtailment comes as the region is already dealing with another significant reduction in pulp production following Canfor’s recently announced permanent closure of its Northwood Pulp Mill near Prince George.

Market Conditions Force Temporary Shutdown

Millar Western has described the Quesnel River Pulp stoppage as a temporary curtailment rather than a permanent closure.

Production is currently expected to remain suspended for almost two months, although the company has indicated operations will be curtailed until at least November 1.

The wording leaves the restart dependent on market conditions.

Millar Western acquired Quesnel River Pulp in 2024. The facility has experienced temporary curtailments before, but the latest shutdown comes against a difficult operating environment for British Columbia’s forest products sector.

No additional details were provided on the specific market factors behind the decision.

90 Workers Affected

The immediate impact will be felt by the approximately 90 employees working at the facility.

Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare described the announcement as “devastating news for Quesnel,” pointing to the importance of forestry employment to the local economy.

Beyond the direct jobs at the mill, an extended production stoppage can affect contractors, suppliers and other businesses connected to forest harvesting, transportation and industrial services.

Clare also raised concerns about the possibility that the temporary shutdown could become permanent if market conditions fail to improve.

At this stage, however, Millar Western has announced only a temporary curtailment, and there has been no announcement that the Quesnel River facility will permanently close.

Employee Benefits to Continue During Curtailment

Quesnel Mayor Ron Paull said there were some positive elements in how the company was handling the temporary shutdown.

According to comments he made to CBC News, affected employees will be able to use vacation time and will continue receiving their benefits during the curtailment.

That provides some support for workers during the planned shutdown period, although the length of the stoppage creates uncertainty over when normal production and employment will resume.

Another Blow for B.C.’s Pulp Industry

The Quesnel River curtailment takes on greater significance because it follows Canfor’s decision to permanently close its Northwood Pulp Mill.

The two developments are different in nature. Millar Western’s announcement is a temporary, market-related production stoppage, while Northwood represents a permanent removal of pulp capacity.

Nevertheless, both affect forest-sector employment and wood-fibre demand in British Columbia’s Interior.

Pulp mills form an important part of the wider forest-products value chain because they can consume wood chips and other residual fibre generated by sawmills and forestry operations.

Consequently, changes in pulp production can have implications beyond an individual mill, particularly in regions where sawmills, pulp producers, logging contractors and transportation companies operate as an interconnected supply chain.

November Restart Will Be Closely Watched

Attention will now turn to whether market conditions improve sufficiently for Quesnel River Pulp to resume operations after the planned curtailment.

The current schedule establishes November 1 as the earliest indicated end of the shutdown rather than a guaranteed restart date.

For Quesnel and the surrounding forest sector, the distinction between a temporary production adjustment and a prolonged shutdown will therefore depend on developments over the coming months.

For now, Millar Western continues to characterize the move as a temporary curtailment driven by unfavourable market conditions, affecting 90 workers from early September.

Last Updated on 20/08/2026 by Jota Machinery