Wapawekka Workers Given Layoff Notices

Wapawekka Workers Given Layoff Notices

Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 14:34

A spokesman for Weyerhaeuser says the future does not look good for two northern sawmills if the Prince Albert pulp and paper mill isn’t sold.

Wayne Roznowsky says 55 workers at Wapawekka Lumber and 260 employees at the Big River sawmill will be laid off permanently on April 19th unless an outside company steps in to begin operations.

Both Wapawekka and the Big River operation sell their wood chips to the Prince Albert plant in an effort to generate cash flow.

Weyerhaeuser owns the Big River mill and Roznowsky says they will close it for good if the situation doesn’t change.

He explains Wapawekka is in a slightly different position, as the final call will be left up to its board to decide.

Roznowsky says a meeting over Wapawekka’s future will be held sometime next month.

Wapawekka is jointly owned by Weyerhaeuser, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the Montreal Lake Cree Nation.