Nearly 15% of Canada Goose clothing is produced in Quebec. While the company will begin designing its new women’s collection in its Montreal and Boisbriand factories within two days, nearly 300 positions are still vacant. And to attract employees, we rely on productivity bonuses: the faster they are in the stages of manufacturing coats, the more generous the pay will be.
Posted at 4:23 p.m.
“The salary is really unlimited,” says Elias Yousef, production manager at the Montreal plant, during a tour of the facilities located on Chabanel Street. The latter claims that some employees earn $30 an hour and even more. Importantly, they are all entitled to the same base salary. “But the faster you are, the more money you have,” adds Yousef, a Canada Goose employee for three years.
Currently, the factory in the metropolis – in operation since 2019 – produces 450 coats a day, but it could double its production… if it had more arms. However, the company known for its famous parkas, some models of which sell for more than $1,000, is no exception when it comes to labor shortages. And she misses it badly.
During our visit, on production line number eight, several dozen sewing machines were covered with a cover, still waiting for an employee to move in to assemble sleeves or a hood. Is it difficult to recruit? “The line is empty,” drops Elias Yousef in response.
PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Currently, the factory in the metropolis – in operation since 2019 – produces 450 coats a day, but it could double its production…
Normally, each of the production lines can accommodate between 45 and 50 operators. For the moment, there are about thirty on average and out of a total of 10 lines, seven are in operation.
Canada Goose has 700 employees in Quebec. The coat maker, headquartered in Toronto, also has three factories in Ontario and three in Manitoba.