Jobs created as a result of hurricanes

Stephanie Gendron

Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Monday, 16 October 2017 00:00

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RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP | the needs of The United States of timber in the aftermath of hurricanes allow for moving quickly to hire 28 employees in a company in Bas-Saint-Laurent, and even to revive one of its plants.

To meet this unexpected demand, The Group Lebel creates an extra shift at its plant in Dégelis, and will operate its three plants in Squatec in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, while only two were in operation.

If the u.s. demand of wood is supported in the summer, it usually falls down in the fall, but not this year. This unexpected demand, primarily due to the hurricanes that struck the United States, such as Irma and Harvey.

“This is really it. A pressure is created by these natural disasters. There has also been forest fires in Western canada that have an impact big enough, because it is the largest producer in North America and they had to close a number of factories, ” says the president and chief executive officer of the Group Lebel, Frédéric Lebel.

The company is part of the top 10 forest producers in eastern Canada. It employs 650 people in twenty factories in Quebec and Ontario.

Decisions in December

This increased demand is temporary for the plant in Squatec, until the spring of 2018. A decision will be made later to the shift of Dégelis.

This is just one of the taxes that they were paying the Group Lebel Americans fell temporarily for the period of September to December, a fact that he pays a tax of 7 % instead of 27 %.

“It helps us of course. But from January on, is it going to be 20 %, is it going to be 22 % ? It just knows that it will be higher. In December, we will see if it can continue the shift in Dégelis or not “, adds Frédéric Lebel.

It must go back to 1992, when he began in the industry, to remember that a similar event had caused a comparable impact. It was at the time of hurricane Andrew in Florida.

He adds that it is quite a challenge to find 28 employees, day labourers and industrial mechanics for a period of a few months, and quickly.

“In Dégelis, it is set, but in Squatec, it is more complicated,” he concludes.