Aspen Planers has halted operations at its Merritt sawmill and planer facility for an undetermined period, citing what it calls a lack of available logs and rising costs that have made continued production unsustainable. He says the shortage stems from provincial policy decisions, including Indigenous co-governance under DRIPA legislation and old growth conservation initiatives. According to Momrath, B.C. He says this suppressed level of timber harvesting, combined with costs, has left many mills unable to operate. “I work for Aspen Planers in Merritt.