Rémabec Shuts Down Operations, Leaving 2000 Without Work
This week, the Quebec forestry industry was hit with a major blow. Rémabec, one of the province's most significant forestry companies, has laid off its entire workforce—around 2000 employees. It’s a decision that has sent shockwaves through communities in regions like Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and the Côte-Nord, where the forestry sector is deeply embedded in local life and economy.
As of next week, the scieries (sawmills) and logging sites will go silent. There will be no wood cut, no logs transported. It’s a total operational freeze. This isn’t just another corporate setback—it’s a seismic disruption for hundreds of families and entire towns built around the forest industry.
This drastic move comes after months of escalating pressure. The ongoing softwood lumber trade dispute with the United States continues to take its toll. The current duty sits at 14.4%, but it could rise to a crushing 34.5% later this year. For a company like Rémabec—where over half of its production is tied to the U.S. market—that’s not just unsustainable, it’s a red line.
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And it's not just tariffs. Indigenous blockades, legal uncertainty, and a sluggish post-pandemic construction rebound in the U.S. have made this a perfect storm. Rémabec had tried to take a stand earlier in the year by halting exports to the U.S. temporarily, a move that even Premier François Legault supported. But despite that gesture, the underlying structural pressures never let up.
Union leaders are sounding the alarm. Olivier Larouche, a union president in one of the affected plants, emphasized how devastating this is for the local economies. “There’s nothing happening starting Monday,” he said. “Not a single log will move.” It’s a stark image, especially when you consider how many livelihoods hang in the balance.
The government has reacted, but cautiously. Minister of Natural Resources Maïté Blanchette Vézina expressed sympathy and used this crisis to push forward her controversial Bill 97, aimed at modernizing forest management. It proposes giving industry players priority access to nearly a third of public forest land—meant to save millions annually. But not everyone is on board. Municipalities, Indigenous communities, scientists, and environmental groups have voiced concern about its long-term implications.
On the ground, however, people are focused on survival. Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain has assured the public that worker relocation plans are being discussed, and support will be provided. Still, for many of these 2000 workers, this isn't just about finding a new job. It’s about dealing with the loss of an identity tied to generations of forestry work.
Rémabec’s silence regarding the full reasons behind the shutdown adds to the unease. For now, communities wait—some with hope for a return, others bracing for permanent closures.
The reality is, the forestry industry in Quebec is standing at a crossroads. This isn’t just about one company—it’s a signal that the entire sector must adapt or risk collapse.
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