Councillor challenges Jim Pattison to hand out final paychecks to laid-off mill staff

Prince George councillor Brian Skakun urged billionaire Jim Pattison to personally deliver the last wages to about 300 workers dismissed as Canfor shuts its Northwood pulp mill.

Brian Skakun, a city councillor in Prince George and former Canfor worker, publicly asked Jim Pattison, whose conglomerate holds a controlling stake in the company, to come to the Northwood pulp mill and hand out the final paychecks to the roughly 300 employees being let go. The request was made during a news conference on July 28, where Skakun criticized Canfor for focusing on shareholder returns rather than the livelihoods of the towns that supported its growth.

Canfor has been closing several facilities in British Columbia, blaming a mix of tough market conditions, U.S. softwood tariffs and a decline in sustainable fibre supplies. CEO Susan Yurkovich described the closures as “gut-wringing” decisions needed to place the business on a more sustainable footing. The shutdown follows recent acquisitions in Arkansas and ongoing accusations that the firm hoards forest licences, limiting new entrants.

Local First Nations leader Colleen Erickson has also questioned the company’s stewardship of regional forests and jobs. Skakun’s appeal reflects broader community frustration with the company’s impact on the provincial economy.