Two more timber mills in Saskatchewan have received timber allocations from the government.
The government says these latest timber allocations will help support increased production at the Big River sawmill, operated by Carrier Forest Products, as well as the Dunkley lumber mill near Carrot River.
The increased production is expected to create new jobs in these regions. While no specific number was attached to the Big River expansion, Carrot River will see approximately 240 jobs created as a result.
The several million-dollar upgrades at the Carrier Big River sawmill will increase lumber production closer to capacity and to what the government says would be a sustainable base. While the government says they are allocating some timber for the project, the majority of the timber will be acquired through Indigenous timber allocation holders and private landowners.
The Big River mill was constructed in 2002 and acquired in 2011. Throughout the years it has operated at a limited capacity.
In Carrot River, the $100 million expansions will increase lumber production by 75 percent. This mill was constructed in 1976 before being acquired by Dunkley in 2019 operating as Edgewood Forest Products.
These latest allocations come at the end of a week that saw two mills in Prince Albert receive timber allocations as well.
“It’s been a great day for the forestry sector in our province,” said Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre in a media release.
The Paper Excellence Pulp Mill and the One Sky Forest Products OSB Mill operating in and near the city received similar allocations.