(Montreal) Quebec has no plans to invest more in Olymel. Despite the difficulties of the pork industry, the Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, believes that the government aid of 150 million granted in 2021 was the right thing to do.
“Olymel as an investment by the government, we are very confident that it is the right thing we have done,” replied the minister, on the sidelines of an event in Mirabel on Monday.
The closure of the Vallée-Jonction pork slaughterhouse, the fifth closure of an Olymel facility in a few months, is “disappointing” for the 994 workers affected, concedes the minister. “I think that after closing, [Olymel] going to be financially sound. We just have to work now with the employees and [se demander] what do we do with the site. »
Despite Olymel’s many difficulties, Mr. Fitzgibbon reiterated his confidence in the current management.
It is a Quebec flagship, Olymel. Of course it has to stay alive. I think it’s a well run business.
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy
The Minister stressed that the support of 150 million from the Fonds de développement des entreprises québécoise and Investissement Québec granted in 2021 was not related to the activities of Vallée-Jonction, but with measures to increase the productivity of the cooperative. .
“There is much less consumption [de porc] internationally, I think it’s a bit unavoidable. Did we know, two years ago, that they were in favor of closing Vallée-Jonction, the answer is “no”, but there were people who thought that there was a consolidation that would happen depending on pork exports. »
Asked about the relevance of new financial support from the government, the Minister replied that no request has been made in this regard for the moment.