Antler Creek Contracting Ltd., NOI

Antler Creek Contracting Ltd., a Terrace, British Columbia-based logging company, filed an NOI on April 14 listing approximately $12.4 million in liabilities, including $3.7 million to Inland Industries, $2.7 to CRA, $1.7 million to Bear Creek Contracting, and $1.3 million to Dynamic Capital Equipment Finance.

Antler Creek operates in northwest British Columbia, with work spanning the Skeena region and extending into more remote, adjacent northern areas. The company currently employs 37 full-time staff, including equipment operators, truck drivers, mechanics, road builders, supervisors, and administrative personnel.

Beginning in 2022, Antler Creek began experiencing cash flow challenges due to increasing delays in payment from its primary customer, Skeena Sawmills. This forced Antler Creek to implement work stoppages and placed mounting financial strain on its ability to continue operating.

In January 2023, the company was forced to cease operations because Skeena failed to make payment when it was due. Skeena was later placed into receivership and Antler Creek did not recover the $1.6 million owing to it.

Throughout 2023, management took steps to informally restructure the company, but the company still suffered a $3 million loss for the 2023 fiscal year and continued to face liquidity issues. These issues were further exacerbated by increasing project costs, as well as unprecedented weather events, causing project delays.

Antler Creek also became delinquent with the payment of over $2 million in employee source deductions to CRA, which issued a demand for payment after the company defaulted on a payment plan. 

Crowe MacKay is the proposal trustee.

Counsel is Fasken for Antler Creek and McCarthy Tétrault for the proposal trustee.