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First Nations-owned Vancouver Island wood chip plant set to close in March
The Atli Chip LP plant, co-owned by the ʼNamgis First Nation, will close due to lost demand after Domtar’s Crofton mill shutdown; it supported 25 to 30 full-time jobs.
- On Jan. 22, 2026, Atli Resources chief executive Jonathan Lok announced the Atli Chip LP will close in March due to ongoing structural changes affecting British Columbia's coastal forest sector.
- Last month, Domtar announced the Crofton pulp mill closure, which Atli says effectively eliminated demand for Beaver Cove wood chips.
- The majority‑First‑Nation‑owned plant, acquired with provincial funding and federal support, created 25 to 30 full-time jobs, Domtar said.
- The provincial Ministry of Forests did not immediately respond, while North Island‑Powell River Conservative member of Parliament Aaron Gunn called the closure `heartbreaking` and said he was `angry` about job losses, criticizing the B.C. New Democrat government.
- Atli says the shutdown is `a necessary pause` not an exit and will work with the ’Namgis First Nation, local communities and leaders on a `responsible transition`, noting the Crofton mill employed about 350 workers.
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6 Articles
6 Articles
First Nations-owned Vancouver Island wood chip plant set to close in March
A wood chip plant on Vancouver Island that’s majority-owned by a First Nation in British Columbia and was acquired with help from provincial funding, says it is closing, the latest setback for the province’s forestry sector.
·Canada
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
C 33%
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