Weeks after cutting 37 front-line jobs, the Old Port of Montreal (Canada Lands Company—CLC) is unable to confirm whether layoffs have come to an end. Affected employees learned of the CLC’s decision only a few hours in advance.
“Employees with 15 years of experience were laid off,” said Mouhssine Mhaji, President of the Syndicat des Employés-ées du Vieux-Port de Montréal (SEVPM). “It’s a shock to the people leaving and demoralizing for everyone else. Everyone is stressed about what’s coming next because the CLC won’t deny the possibility of future cuts.”
These layoffs raise questions about the CLC’s agenda and whether the Old Port of Montreal is being privatized. The Old Port has evolved in recent years, with more private companies offering paid activities to the public.
Attractions like the pirate ship, the zipline, and the Ferris wheel have appeared over time in the Bonsecours Market area. An Excurio exhibit has opened where the Montréal Science Centre’s food court used to be, while Montreal Bungee has set up shop at the foot of Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
Meanwhile, the IMAX cinema is now closed on weekends, and rumours abound about the future of the Montréal Science Centre. What would the CLC do with thousands of vacant square feet on King Edward Quay?
“Slowly but surely, the CLC is neglecting operational oversight and privatizing more of the Old Port,” said Mhaji. “More activities are paid. Green space is shrinking, as is Old Montreal residents’ river access. Is the gateway to the river closing off?”
“The Public Service Alliance of Canada, Quebec Region (PSAC-Quebec) is prepared to support its members during this difficult period,” said Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec. “We will soon be launching an extensive consultation on what citizens want to see in the Old Port of Montreal.”
SEVPM represents about 150 members working in maintenance, security, facilitation, front desk, and ticket sales at the Montréal Science Centre.
The Old Port of Montreal is owned by the CLC. The CLC is a self-financing federal Crown corporation that specializes in attractions management and real estate and development.