Millar Western to Indefinitely Curtail Operations at Quesnel River Pulp Mill

Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. has announced that operations at its Quesnel River Pulp mill in British Columbia will be curtailed indefinitely, ending previous plans to restart production following a temporary shutdown.

The mill was initially taken offline in September, with operations expected to resume in November. However, the company has now confirmed that it has no scheduled restart date. Approximately 90 employees are affected by the decision.

In a letter to employees, Millar Western said the future of the operation would depend on market conditions and the availability of an economically viable fibre supply.

The decision adds to a series of mill closures and production curtailments that have affected British Columbia's forestry sector in recent years.

Quesnel Mayor Coralee Oakes described the announcement as devastating for workers and the wider community, noting that many employees have spent their entire careers at the facility and that some come from families with generations of experience in the forestry industry.

Oakes also questioned the level of support available to municipalities facing the economic consequences of forestry-sector decisions.

The announcement follows a federal government commitment in July 2026 to provide Millar Western with a $100 million loan through the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan program. The funding was intended to help the company adapt to changing market conditions while protecting jobs.

Millar Western also operates pulp mills in Slave Lake and Whitecourt, Alberta.

In a statement issued Monday, British Columbia premier-designate Lorne Doerkson described the indefinite curtailment as a significant setback for Quesnel and the affected workers.

Doerkson said the provincial government would work with Millar Western and the City of Quesnel to understand what would be required to restart operations at the facility.

The company has not announced a timeline for a potential resumption of production.