'The next 18 months are gonna be very hard': Quebec forestry

[CHIMO]

'The next 18 months are gonna be very hard': Quebec forestry
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | 1:21 PM ET
CBC News

There could be more mill closures in Quebec and more job losses in coming months as the forest industry adjusts to deflated demand for softwood lumber, analysts say.

Several forest products companies have announced significant closures and layoffs across the province this fall, with the latest announcement coming Tuesday from Abitibi-Consolidated, one of the largest operations in Quebec, which will shut down four mills and cut 700 jobs at the end of October.

The combination of an unsatisfactory solution to the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. and a sluggish softwood market because of low housing starts has dragged lumber prices down to decade lows.

Several other Quebec forestry companies face a similar predicament, Bouthillier said. In early October, Tembec announced it was cutting 400 jobs, and Krueger announced 200 people temporarily laid off would not return to work.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/10/11/qc-forestrylayoffs.html

[flying_wahini]

1. I am showing my ignorance, don't know about the lumber

industry, but it seems there should be a huge demand for lumber since
Katrina.... or don't they ship lumber that far?
Or am I way off?

[Bassic]

3. I don't know but 4 companies have closed a bunch of mills

and laid off close to two thousand workers in the last weeks/months.

So something ain't right.

[IntravenousDemilo]

2. Trouble at mill?

Graham Chapman: Trouble at mill.
Carol Cleveland: Oh no - what kind of trouble?
Chapman: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treadle.
Cleveland: Pardon?
Chapman: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treadle.
Cleveland: I don't understand what you're saying.
Chapman: One of the cross beams has gone out askew on the treadle.
Cleveland: Well what on earth does that mean?
Chapman: I don't know - Mr Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that's all - I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

(JARRING CHORD}

(The door flies open and Cardinal Ximinez of Spain enters, flanked by two junior cardinals. Cardinal Biggles has goggles pushed over his forehead. Cardinal Fang is just Cardinal Fang)

Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.