Here is our summary of the hirings and layoffs that made headlines in Canada in September 2023.
Hirings
The Quebec government has granted $644 million in funding to a consortium formed by Ford, EcoProBM and SK On for the construction of a battery materials production plant in Bécancour. This project will create more than 345 jobs and enable the production of 45,000 tonnes of cathode materials for batteries in Ford’s future electric vehicles. The plant is expected to be operational in 2026.
Other news in the electric transportation industry: a $150 million loan from Quebec will allow Volta Energy Solutions Canada to open a copper foil manufacturing plant in Granby for the North American vehicle battery market electrical. The project, valued at $750 million, is expected to create 260 jobs. The plant is scheduled to come into operation in 2026, with a production capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year.
The federal government will invest up to $25 million to finance the Weavers Mountain wind energy project in Nova Scotia, which will create some 230 jobs. This project is part of Nova Scotia’s ambition to derive 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2023.
The construction of a new provincial prison in the village of Minto, New Brunswick, delights residents of this community of 2,300 people, hard hit by the closure of its coal mine in 2010. When it is built, the prison plans to create 120 jobs.
Beneco Packaging and Custom Plastics International, two packaging manufacturers based in Cobourg, Ontario, are investing a total of $8.4 million to expand their operations, creating 30 new “well-paying” jobs.
Layoffs
Next November, paper company Domtar will close its plant in Espanola, Ontario, resulting in a loss of 450 jobs. The decision was made due to financial losses and high operation and maintenance costs.
The Marinard shrimp processing plant in Rivière-au-Renard, in Gaspésie, had to suspend its activities due to a low abundance of shrimp, a decision that affects around 100 workers, including around thirty temporary foreign workers.
More job losses in the media sector: Métro Média, the publisher of the Métro Montréal newspaper and 16 local newspapers, has suspended all its activities, resulting in the loss of 70 jobs, including around thirty journalists. The president and CEO of Métro Média, Andrew Mulé, hopes to receive financial support to relaunch the company’s activities.
Air Canada‘s changes to service providers at three airports in Newfoundland and Labrador will result in the loss of 54 jobs. Starting November 1, PAL will replace Jazz, which currently holds the Air Canada Express contract. This change is due to changes to Air Canada’s flight schedule. Thus, Happy Valley-Goose Bay will no longer be served, Gander will lose 16 jobs and Deer Lake will lose 25.
Taken over by the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, the 17 employees of the residence for people living with intellectual disabilities, Mélodia, were dismissed. The CIUSSS signed a lease with the owner of the building so that the 15 users will stay there for another year.