Canfor to close Prince George pulp mill, 300 jobs lost

The closure of a major pulp mill in Prince George, British Columbia, has triggered urgent calls for government support and industry reform, marking another severe blow to a provincial forestry sector that has lost thousands of jobs in recent years. Canfor Corporation announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that it will permanently close its Northwood Pulp Mill later this year, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs.

The company cited a combination of global market pressures and local supply challenges for the decision. In a statement, Canfor President and CEO Susan Yurkovich said substantial new pulp production capacity worldwide, particularly in countries like Brazil, has created an oversupply and driven down prices. She said these factors, combined with persistent difficulties in accessing sufficient wood fibre in British Columbia, have led to unsustainable financial losses for the pulp division with no foreseeable improvement.

The closure adds to a wave of shutdowns that has devastated forestry-dependent communities across the province. According to the BC Council of Forest Industries, approximately 15,000 forestry jobs have been lost since 2022, including 21 lumber mills that have...