Amazon remains steadfast on Quebec shutdown proposal despite pushback from Ottawa
Amazon confirmed on Friday that plans to close all seven warehouses in Quebec remain unchanged, despite calls from federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne for a review of Ottawa’s “business relationship” with the online retail giant.
Champagne stated, “They’ll have me fighting to make sure that this is not going to go unanswered in Canada,” emphasizing his commitment to addressing the issue.
The closure of the warehouses will result in the loss of 1,700 permanent jobs and 250 temporary ones, following the unionization of workers at an Amazon warehouse in Laval, Que. in May.
Amazon denied any connection between the closures and the unionization efforts in the province, stating that the decision is based on improving efficiency and cost-effective services for customers.
Initially, the company expressed willingness to discuss the matter with Minister Champagne, but later indicated that a sit-down with CEO Andy Jassy was not on the agenda.
Champagne has not revealed how the federal government will respond to the situation, despite having more than 200 contracts with Amazon since 2020, including multi-million dollar deals.
He emphasized the importance of respectful negotiations and sent a letter to Jassy urging a reconsideration of the warehouse closures, which garnered significant public attention.
Champagne expressed disappointment in Amazon’s lack of transparency during discussions and highlighted the fundamental right to unionize in Canada, emphasizing the importance of respecting workers’ rights.