Amazon is ceasing operations in Quebec, moving back to ‘third party’ delivery

Amazon is pulling out of Quebec over the next two months, spokesperson say it's returning to a third party model.

Online retail giant Amazon is pulling out of Quebec, a spokesperson confirmed to CTV News.

The company says it will cease operations over the next two months in seven operation sites, one fulfillment centre, two sorting centres, three delivery stations and one AMXL (extra large) delivery station that is co-located with a sorting centre.

Barbara Agrait, a spokesperson with Amazon, denies that the decision was made following the unionization of 200 employees last spring at Amazon’s DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Que.

In total, 1,700 regular employees in Quebec and 250 temporary-seasonal workers will be affected.

“[The seasonal workers will be] compensated until the last day of their contracts,” she said.

Agrait adds the impacted employees are set to receive packages including up to 14 weeks of pay once facilities close, as well as transitional benefits, “like job placement resources.”

Amazon says it plans to return to its third-party model, “supported by small local businesses.”

“This is something we already had in Quebec, we had it in place until 2020,” said Agrait. “We believe it’s going to allow us to provide the same great business to our customers.”

When asked about the closures, Quebec Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain said Wednesday she heard the news from the media.

“It’s a decision from Amazon, it’s a reorganization decision,” she said. “We’ll be there for the employees, that’s what we do in the employment ministry, help workers find other work.”

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government is currently meeting in Saint-Sauveur, and a press briefing with Premier François Legault is scheduled for 12 p.m.