Punitive softwood lumber duties have forced Tembec Inc. to scale back its operations in northeastern Ontario. The company is cutting its production of softwood pine lumber and shutting down its planing and drying operations at a sawmill in Mattawa. About 64 jobs will be cut at the sawmill.
A spokesperson with the company says Tembec will focus on hardwood lumber production, and review its decision to scale back operations once the market improves and U.S. penalties are revoked.
The company plans to boost hardwood production to almost 11 million board feet, from seven million board feet. Softwood lumber production will be reduced to about five million board feet from 19 million board feet.
