$1.70 a litre in BC

pgs

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 29, 2008
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B.C.
South Cariboo mill contractors working through a difficult time

By
Millar Hill 100milefreepress.net

Recent mill closures in the South Cariboo are hitting contractors and smaller businesses alike hard – leaving them in a state of uncertainty for their future.

Debra Maclean and her husband Rod Dillman, who co-own Rod Dillman Contracting are apart of those being affected by the indefinite curtailment of Norbord’s 100 Mile House mill location.

“We have been working for them for years,” said Maclean. “We were bidding on timber sales performing stump-to-dump logging and Norbord had been issuing some of our contract work.”

The couple started their business in the South Cariboo 14 years ago with one machine and have built it up ever since. Up until now, their company had consisted of 25 full-time employees and about five sub-contractors.

“We had 25 employees and in the last week I had to lay off 10 guys and our guys are like our family – it devastated Rod and I,” said Maclean. “It’s heartbreaking.”

The curtailment of 100 Mile’s Norbord location came to them as a shock, as it did for many. Maclean said Dillman was first made aware of the curtailment from a text message that one of the logging truck drivers had sent.

“After we heard it from the truck driver, one of the fellows at Norbord had tried to get a hold of Rod, who at the time missed the call,” said Maclean. “Rod phoned him back and he was told (of the curtailment) and then, of course, the following day we were sent an email saying the contract was void – so that’s where we are now.”

In order to keep their business running, the couple is now searching for alternative markets where they can send loads.

“For us to have to sit down and figure out how we are going to do this and be able to get through this – we had no choice but to reduce our staff,” said Maclean. “Obviously, we need the revenue to cover our expenses and we are reducing those expenses. It’s crushing, most of our staff have families and we can’t help them and that devastates me. I don’t see the government stepping in and helping them. It blows my mind that the government can offer help to the mill workers, as they should, but they forget about the contractors and their crews.”

Maclean said it’s not just the mill workers and contractors that are going to be affected, but every other business that plays a significant role in the industry.

“The businesses that we buy our fluids and parts, we aren’t purchasing much,” said Maclean. “If we need it, we will go get it but before we were having them stock us up but we can’t do that now. It’s trickling downhill for all of us. We log for a lot of the ranchers around here and the wood is just sitting there and that’s hard too because don’t want to let those people down … It’s terrible.”

In past years, the company has been able to help out in the community, but with the loss of jobs and people having to cut back their spending, those generosities could be hard to come by in the following months. Maclean said that it’s not just going to affect the industry but the community as a whole.

“This was a shock. We didn’t have a choice in this matter, it was just sprung on us,” said Maclean. “We are left having to function day by day.”

Despite the uncertainty during this time, Maclean is hopeful and plans to hang on and do their best with what they’ve got.

“We are a strong company and are not going away.”

https://www.100milefreepress.net/ne...contractors-working-through-a-difficult-time/


Temporary or not, JLM - the mills closures are life-changing events for thousands of families.
Yes it sucks .
 

Hoid

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 15, 2017
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Too bad they weren't Alberta oil companies.

The government would step in with a $4.5 billion bailout.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
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Vernon, B.C.
South Cariboo mill contractors working through a difficult time

By
Millar Hill 100milefreepress.net

Recent mill closures in the South Cariboo are hitting contractors and smaller businesses alike hard – leaving them in a state of uncertainty for their future.

Debra Maclean and her husband Rod Dillman, who co-own Rod Dillman Contracting are apart of those being affected by the indefinite curtailment of Norbord’s 100 Mile House mill location.

“We have been working for them for years,” said Maclean. “We were bidding on timber sales performing stump-to-dump logging and Norbord had been issuing some of our contract work.”

The couple started their business in the South Cariboo 14 years ago with one machine and have built it up ever since. Up until now, their company had consisted of 25 full-time employees and about five sub-contractors.

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Perhaps a little off topic, but I think our primary concern now should be getting rid of two Governments, the one in Ottawa and the one in Victoria. While people like Dillman and Maclean are struggling to keep their noses above water, and supporting their employees without much in the way of Gov't. help, the Gov'ts will move heaven and earth to keep layabouts and druggies alive. It's high time THESE people were told the decision of life or death is being put in their hands. The ones who want to survive will, but they won't as long as they are being spoon fed and people are running to their aid 24/7 with drug survival kits. The "free lunch" should come to an abrupt end, they are taking the rest of down.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
109,303
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Low Earth Orbit
Too bad they weren't Alberta oil companies.
The government would step in with a $4.5 billion bailout.
You get your oil from AB BC YK SK and wherever a floats in by tanker or rolls in by rail to feed Shell in WA as well. Not me. Nary a drop of foreign oil hits my tanks.
 
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spilledthebeer

Executive Branch Member
Jan 26, 2017
9,296
4
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Technically you don't live in Canada. You are a white foreigner on unceded FN land.




"UNCEDED"??????????????????????????????


Is that the new native label for the imaginary lands adjacent to NARNIA???????????????????????


Are Cdn natives now claiming that C.S. Lewis STOLE their lands?????????????????????


HOW muh fentanyl ARE THOSE CHINESE putting into drug shipments..........................


for Cdn natives anyway??????????????



Does Petros have his own wardrobe??????????????????????????


Or does he simply borrow one from Cliffy whenever he wants to travel.............................


in the wild lands of "Unceded" around Narnia??????????????????????????????????

 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
109,303
11,389
113
Low Earth Orbit
I guess they'd rather drive their cars than ride the bus.
Drivers fund the buses with fuel taxes. If drivers took the bus, fares would need to quadruple. That would take away funds for the moonbats morning latte and cause layoffs at Starbucks.