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Merritt mayor hopes discussions at civic gathering can avert mill closure

Merritt mayor hopes discussions at civic gathering can avert mill closure | iNFOnews.ca
FILE PHOTO: The Merritt Tolko mill. Contributed by Tolko Industries

MERRITT – The mayor of Merritt will be busy at this week's Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, trying to convince senior government politicians to save a major employer in the Nicola Valley city.

Mayor Neil Menard hopes to meet with Forests Minister Steve Thomson and Jobs Minister Shirley Bond to discuss the impending closure of the Tolko sawmill in Merritt.

A reduction in the amount of timber permitted for harvest in the Merritt region is blamed for the closure, slated for mid-December.

Menard says he intends to challenge the forests minister to explain why timber allocations were scaled back.

The Tolko mill employs about 200 people and Menard says it's premature for the province to send a transition team to assist those facing layoffs.

He says it's unacceptable to consider the closure a foregone conclusion.

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.

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