The following is a report of the companies that announced hirings and lay-offs during the month of March 2017.
Hirings
1. Fabspec, the metal parts manufacturer, has announced the creation of some twenty new positions for welders and specialized technician, as part of the implementation of a cutting-edge production line in one of its three Sorel-Tracy plants.
2. The mining company, Champion Iron Limited is preparing to reprise iron extraction operations at the Bloom mine, near Fermont. It is a project for which it expects to hire 400 workers by next fall.
3. Still in the mining sector, Forage Orbit Garant is seeking to fill some sixty driller positions in Val-d’Or.
4. In Sayabec, Gaspésie, the RPF Électrique Group is planning to hire some thirty people over the next months, both for administrative positions and for the maintenance of wind power plants and the various worksites.
5. The construction of a new rest stop along Highway 20, near Saint-Louis-de-Blandford in the Bois-Francs region, will create 60 new jobs, according to the promoter.
Layoffs
1. The last 50 employees from the Trinor Group in Sept-Îles, left the installations for good. Specializing in the manufacturing and maintenance of heavy equipment, it declared bankruptcy in early March.
2. Another hard blow for the energy sector: Enbridge Energy, the Albertan pipeline company has announced the elimination of 1000 jobs, following its acquisition of the American, Spectra Energy. The exact number of jobs to be eliminated in Canada has not yet been disclosed.
3. Gloom continues with another round of layoffs in the world of media: TC Media is eliminating 20 positions at its Centre d'excellence en édition multiplateforme [Centre of Excellence in Multiplatform Publishing], in Montreal's east end.
4. Between 75 and 80 people will lose their jobs due to the closure of a St-Hubert restaurant branch on Saint-Denis Street in Montreal. According to new chain owner, Cara Operations, the location had become unprofitable.
5. Fifty-six jobs are at risk in Alma due to the announced closure of the local Sears store branch. Other similar announcements are to be expected, since earlier in the year, the chain announced it intends to close approximately 10% of its stores.