SASKATOON — Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail says he understands how important the forestry industry is to northern Saskatchewan after growing up in La Ronge, and believes the curtailment of operations at the Big River sawmill will have far-reaching economic consequences.
McPhail, the Shadow Minister for Forestry and Northern Affairs, said that the forestry industry has long provided employment and supported communities across the North, making the loss of jobs especially significant, since life revolves around the forest, with residents relying on it for work, recreation and their connection to the land.
"Growing up in northern Saskatchewan, obviously we live, work, breathe and play within our territory here, which is lakes, rivers, trees and mosquitoes the size of helicopters,” said McPhail, a former member of La Ronge’s Town Council, with a smile. “Growing up, we had a sawmill just south of La Ronge, so I saw firsthand how important the industry was to communities."
He added that forestry has been a cornerstone of Saskatchewan's northern economy for generations. However, he argued the industry has steadily declined over the past two decades, pointing to the closure of mills and the long-promised Prince Albert pulp mill that has yet to materialize, saying workers have watched employment opportunities disappear rather than expand.
"What we're actually seeing is more and more jobs being lost in the forestry sector. Twenty years of not managing the forest properly has contributed to the industry's struggles," he added, arguing that government promises to double the size of the sector were never backed by meaningful action. It's the billion-dollar industry in the province of Saskatchewan," said McPhail.
According to the provincial government website InvestSK.ca, Saskatchewan's forestry industry is a 12-million-hectare commercial zone in the northern boreal forest, which generates over $1 billion in annual sales and supports nearly 8,000 direct and indirect jobs. There are eight big companies managing facilities and over 200 small-scale operators, both of which employ Indigenous people.
Operators such as Carrier Forest Products, which decided to scale back production, potentially affecting 117 employees, faced challenges brought by U.S. tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, rising financial costs of transporting lumber, and a drop in the timber supply due to wildfires. The industry also receives far less attention than agriculture, energy and mining.
"It's often the other effort that the government doesn't want to talk about. They talk about food, fuel and fertilizer quite a bit, but they don't talk about forestry, and it's a major piece of our economy. We're seeing the effects of them not taking it seriously. The government has to recognize what forestry means to Saskatchewan's economy and to the families who depend on it," said McPhail.
He added that the province has tools at its disposal to improve the industry's competitiveness, including reinvesting Crown dues into forestry management, adjusting timber allocations, reducing input costs and working more closely with industry. McPhail said forestry companies and industry organizations have repeatedly identified these issues but have seen little government response.
“The silence from Scott Moe when it comes to the curtailment of the Big River Sawmill speaks volumes about his government’s attitude to the forestry sector and to hardworking Saskatchewan people in general. Not even a word of sympathy for 117 impacted workers, their families, and the community that is facing the impact of this curtailment,” said McPhail.
Government response
The provincial government maintained its stance on the issue, saying it is committed to supporting the individuals and families in the communities that will be affected by the decision made by Carrier, which would be difficult for the 117 workers, and deployed the Canada-Saskatchewan Rapid Response Team to provide whatever additional support.
“Our government continues to work closely with our partners in the forestry sector to ensure that Saskatchewan forestry mills have enough timber to support their operations. We have made significant changes to the timber royalty system to align it with other resource royalty structures in the province to help improve the industry's competitiveness,” said the government in the same statement.
“The announcement is a direct result of the unjust U.S. tariffs and duties, a weak pricing environment and a falling exchange rate. Our goal as a government is to create and maintain a strong and prosperous forestry sector. We will not deviate from that goal and will continue to look at all options to support it.”
