Tembec suspends sawmill operations

MONTREAL — High wood costs in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region have prompted Tembec to suspend operations at its three sawmills. CEO James Lopez cited the provincial forestry regulations in effect since the spring of 2013 as a cause in the rising prices, and said the company is appealing to the Liberal government of Philippe Couillard, in office since last year, for an additional annual volume of about 300,000 m³ of softwood. Tembec’s sawmills in La Sarre, Senneterre, and Béarn, Que., will close for two weeks.