The sudden shutdown of Amazon’s warehouse in Coteau-du-Lac has caught many off guard, including Joanne Brunet, Executive Director of Développement (DEV) Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

“This is completely unexpected news. My thoughts are with the employees and their families who will be affected by this closure,” she said in an interview with Néomédia.

According to Ms. Brunet, this decision will result in the loss of jobs for 350 workers at the Coteau-du-Lac facility.

DEV learned about the closure this morning through the media, without prior notification. “At the moment, we are in constant contact with Amazon to gather more details about the situation, but I cannot provide further information at this time.”

In addition to communicating with the American multinational, the Executive Director is also in touch with other local companies in the logistics sector that are currently looking for workers. “In fact, we were contacted today by local businesses seeking employees.”

Many Questions, Few Answers
Joanne Brunet says she is unable to explain precisely why Amazon made this decision. “This kind of decision is made internally and driven by economic reasons. It seems Amazon is shifting toward a smaller-scale delivery model, which doesn’t necessarily align with our region.”

As for the building housing the warehouse, Amazon does not own it. “The building belongs to a limited partnership company. It will be their responsibility to find a new tenant for the property.” For now, it remains unclear what will happen to the warehouse after its closure. “We are in communication with potential prospects who might be interested in leasing the space,” Ms. Brunet added.

Despite the uncertainty, Joanne Brunet wants to reassure local businesses and the employees affected by the closure that DEV will support them during this transition period.

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