NDP MP joins workers in calling for Amazon boycott after Quebec closures

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus is urging Canadians to participate in a nationwide boycott of Amazon in response to the closure of seven warehouses in Quebec. The closures have resulted in the loss of thousands of permanent full-time jobs, as well as jobs at subcontracted suppliers. Angus, along with union officials such as Félix Trudeau, the union president for the Laval, Que., Amazon warehouse, are calling for Amazon to provide proper severance packages to those who have been laid off.

Additionally, Angus and union representatives are urging the federal government to terminate all contracts with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and to demand the repayment of any federal subsidies received by the company. The call for a boycott comes in the wake of a labor dispute between Amazon and workers in Quebec, particularly in the Laval warehouse where approximately 230 employees unionized last year, marking the first successful unionization effort at an Amazon facility in Canada.

Amazon has refuted claims that the warehouse closures are related to the unionization drive, asserting that the decision was made to enhance operational efficiency. However, Angus and others are adamant that Amazon must take responsibility for the impact of these closures on workers and their families.

The video above showcases Angus’s plea for Canadians to support the boycott and highlights his criticism of Bezos for selling merchandise that refers to Canada as the “51st state,” a reference to disparaging remarks made about Canada by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

As the debate over Amazon’s treatment of its workers continues, it remains to be seen how the company will respond to growing pressure from politicians, unions, and consumers. In the meantime, Angus is determined to mobilize public support for the boycott and hold Amazon and Bezos accountable for their actions.