Sep 29, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Sinclar Group Forest Products will not resume operations at its Winton Global Lumber plant sites, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. “As a long-standing, family-run company that has been operating in Prince George for 50 years, we profoundly regret the decision we have had to make today,” said Sinclar Group President Greg Stewart. “Our biggest hope was that we could find some way to re-start operations and get people back to work. Unfortunately, prevailing market conditions prevent us from doing so.” The failure of the U.S. economy in 2008 saw housing starts south of the border drop by more than half. Consequently, lumber prices fell dramatically, eliminating the primary market for Winton Global products. These market forces, combined with future fibre uncertainty and the projected capital investment required to regain competitiveness, led to the decision to permanently close Winton Global Lumber operations, the company said. All former Winton Global Lumber employees will immediately receive the full severance to which they are entitled. Winton Global Lumber is an independently owned and managed operation of Sinclar Group Forest Products. It produced dimension lumber for the U.S., Canadian and Japanese markets. It is the only company within Sinclar Group Forest Products that made this product.