Aspen Planers has temporarily shuttered its operations in Merritt, a move that has resulted in approximately 100 workers being laid off, underscoring the dire challenges facing British Columbia's forestry sector. According to Bruce Rose, Executive Vice President of AP Group, the decision to halt operations stems from what he describes as "market realities" plaguing the industry. The Merritt mill has been inactive for over a month, following a period in which it operated on a reduced schedule, running only a single daily shift for much of 2023 and 2024. "The whole forest industry in B.C., it ...