Councillor Brian Skakun said he believes Canfor and its majority owner, Jim Pattison, should personally deliver final severance payments to workers who were laid off as the company and others scale back operations. The calls come as Canfor and several other major producers announce closures and job losses, describing the downturn as gut-wrenching for communities that rely on forestry.
Skakun emphasized that the onus remains on senior leadership to communicate directly with affected employees, beyond generic company statements. He asserted that ensuring timely final cheques would send a clear signal of accountability to workers who have endured periods of uncertainty as mills shuttered or reduced activity.
Canfor and Pattison’s publicly traded conglomerate have faced criticism from some local officials who argue that decisions impacting thousands of employment opportunities are far from transparent. The company has cited market pressures and structural shifts in the industry as factors behind the closures, while reiterating that the welfare of workers remains a priority through severance packages and transition support.
The broader context involves a wave of layoffs tied to mill shutdowns in British Columbia, with several communities confronting economic strain as plants scale back production or cease operations entirely. The company has described the situation as deeply painful for workers and families.
Industry analysts note that the forestry sector has been hit by fluctuating demand, competition, and supply chain challenges, complicating recovery prospects for rural communities. While some observers call for renewed government intervention and targeted retraining programs, others warn that the path to stabilization will require coordinated efforts from industry leaders, workers, and policymakers.
Representatives for Canfor and Jim Pattison did not respond to requests for comment by publication time. The situation remains a focal point for regional discussions on economic resilience and the responsibilities of corporate leadership when major workforce reductions occur.
