Province approves more timber allocations for northern mills

The Government of Saskatchewan continued with a string of announcements regarding timber allocations this week.

The latest allotment supports the proposed expansion of the Dunkley Lumber sawmill in Carrot River.

“It’s been a great week for the forestry sector in our province,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in a media release.

“Dunkley’s Carrot River mill expansion will lead to significant growth in lumber sales and exports and is expected to create 240 new direct and indirect jobs, which is very positive news for northeast Saskatchewan.”

The $100-million expansion will increase lumber production capacity by 75 per cent, from the current 130 million board feet of lumber annually to 230 million board feet, requiring approximately 821,000 cubic metres of softwood timber.

The province will allocate timber through the Ministry of Energy and Resources under the Forest Resources Management Act, but the majority of timber will be secured by the company through agreements negotiated with Indigenous timber allocation holders and private landowners.

“Dunkley looks forward to completion of its sawmill expansion in Saskatchewan and appreciates the proactive approach by the provincial government in its mandate to grow the forest sector while meeting important sustainability objectives,” Dunkley Lumber president Rob Novak said.

“The sawmill will add a second saw line and increase production over five phases of development by the fall of 2023. Saskatchewan is clearly open for business and refreshing to work with. We really appreciate the response from the province in the form of a timber allocation increase to help support our capital investments in Carrot River.”

The Carrot River mill, originally constructed in 1976, was acquired by Dunkley in 2019 and operates as Edgewood Forest Products.

Carrier Forest Products allocation

The government also announced the approval of a timber allocation to support increased lumber production at the Carrier Forest Products sawmill in Big River.

“This increase in production will bring the Carrier sawmill closer to capacity and is expected to create important new jobs,” Eyre said. “This is more good news for the forestry sector in Saskatchewan and will lead to enhanced economic development opportunities for Indigenous workers, northern communities and the broader provincial economy.”

A government media release said the upgrade at the Big River sawmill will facilitate Carrier’s ability to increase lumber production closer to capacity on a sustained basis. Like the Carrot River allotment, timber will be secured by the company through commercial agreements negotiated with Indigenous timber allocation holders and private landowners.

“The increased allocation is the critical piece for us to reach full capacity,” Carrier Forest Products president Bill Kordyban said. “We acknowledge the diligence and hard work the province has done to further develop and diversify the forest industry in Saskatchewan.”

The Big River mill was constructed in 2002 and acquired by Carrier in 2011. The Big River mill is the largest of three sawmills in Saskatchewan.

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