There were many reasons why Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Tolko mill closed its doors earlier this week.

Poor market conditions were tagged as the biggest factor, but for local MLA Steve Thomson the factors should have been caught earlier. From recognizing patterns throughout the forest industry in the province to the rising costs of the market, Thomson said the fault lies with the provincesa国际传媒檚 leadership.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a real shame that the current NDP government has been really missing in action in terms of response to this news,sa国际传媒� said Thomson. sa国际传媒淭here are things they could have done and they havensa国际传媒檛 taken any steps to fixing this crisis.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Kelowna Tolko mill shut down for sa国际传媒榠ndeterminatesa国际传媒� amount of time

Thomson, the former forest minister up until 2017, pointed out the patterns in the industry throughout the province; mills in Quesnel and Maple Ridge were closed earlier in the summer, as well as job cuts to B.C.sa国际传媒檚 logging contractors.

The Tolko closure will also trickle into other industries in the Okanagan and have an indirect impact on suppliers, contractors and others in the sector, Thomson said. Operating costs, stumpage fees and timber supplies have all contributed to the industrysa国际传媒檚 fallout.

sa国际传媒淚t another bit of bad news for this sector,sa国际传媒� said Thomson.

sa国际传媒淎nd itsa国际传媒檚 devastating news for the employees and families. Wesa国际传媒檒l be advocating to make sure the appropriate supports are brought in for those who lost their jobs. The [B.C.] government has been late on those responses like EI [Employment Insurance] and itsa国际传媒檚 impacting so many communities.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Twice laid off due to sawmill closings, B.C. worker ready for a new career

READ MORE: Kelowna job market taking a hit due to speculation tax: CHBA

Tolko employees were on a six-week break and were expected to return to work on Sept. 16, but the mill closed its doors for sa国际传媒榓n indeterminatesa国际传媒� amount of time on Sept. 12, laying-off close to 130 employees.

sa国际传媒淭his decision was not easy for us to make,sa国际传媒� said Tolkosa国际传媒檚 Troy Connolly at the time.

sa国际传媒淲e are very disappointed to be in a position where we have to curtail the mill, particularly given the reasons for this extension are beyond our control. However, with lumber market prices at sustained low levels and high log costs in B.C., the mill cannot be cost-competitive.sa国际传媒�

As for any future fixes, Thomson said that as long as there is no significant response or action from the provincial government there wonsa国际传媒檛 be a quick turnaround in the industry and there will be permanent mill closures across B.C.

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