Prime Minister Francois Legault discussed “paying jobs” with a BRP administrator even as the company came under heavy criticism for underpaying its foreign workers.
The elected Caquist published a tweet on Wednesday afternoon in which he was delighted to have held a private meeting where he discussed “Quebec’s economy and the creation of well-paid jobs” with the president of the Bombardier counsel and BRP director, Pierre Beaudoin.
With Pierre Beaudoin, Chairman of the Board of Bombardier and Director of BRP.
We discussed the Quebec economy and the creation of well-paying jobs. pic.twitter.com/TMDplzHUe7— Francois Legault (@francoislegault) February 22, 2023
“Did you also discuss Mexican temporary workers paid below minimum wage at BRP? “replied the elected representative of Quebec solidaire, Andrés Fontecilla, on Twitter at the start of the evening.
Questioned by The duty, the interim leader of the Liberal Party, Marc Tanguay, also addressed his question directly to the Prime Minister. “Are you talking about well-paid jobs? ! I dare to hope that you took the opportunity to also talk about the revolting practices at BRP, ”he said in a written statement sent by his cabinet.
On Tuesday, Radio-Canada reported that Mexican foreign workers in the recreational products manufacturing company were paid almost four times less than their Quebec colleagues. The situation is the subject of an investigation by the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST).
In the morning on Wednesday, the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, had described as “unacceptable” the situation at the Valcourt plant.
Asked after the publication of the tweet, the office of Prime Minister Legault was content to say that “we do not comment on private meetings”. It is therefore impossible to know whether the specific situation of Mexican employees has been addressed.