A Quebec baker claims it lost nearly $900,000 in sales because work orchestrated by the Department of Transportation stalled its business, which the department denies.
“It’s a nightmare. There have been jobs since April 11, 2021. As a result, we lost a good 160 days of sales because we had to close. That’s a loss of income of more than $900,000,” says Houcine Tabbabi, baker at Chemin des Quatre- Bourgeois, in Quebec.
“If you don’t have a job, you can make a million dollars a year,” explains the man, who has made himself known to his neighborhood clients.
He tells the Journal that access to his shop has been blocked and customers have had trouble entering his bakery for months.
As a result, sales plummeted. The money is missing. The sky is darkening.
“My wife and I worked 12 to 14 hours a day, but we need to cut it down to 6 or 7 hours,” continues the contractor, who says he’s still stuck in this construction puzzle.
Taken by the throat
Annoyed, Houcine Tabbabi says he wrote a letter to the Quebec Department of Transportation but was told standards were met.
“We no longer have the means to hire staff. We can no longer pay the rent. We have to borrow money,” the entrepreneur sighs, losing patience.
“The project manager has created a barrier between the location and the company,” says the entrepreneur at the end of his strength.
Today his bakery is struggling to recover.
The $900,000 hole weakens his small business, and this shortage threatens even the very survival of the business.
Questioned by Le Journal, François Vincent, vice president for Quebec at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, regretted the situation.
According to him, those SME bosses like Houcine Tabbabi who boost the economy shouldn’t pay the price for the inconveniences associated with work.
“The cities of Montreal and Quebec have roadwork compensation programs in place,” he recalls.
“Maybe it’s time to think about it, so Quebec does the same,” suggests CFIB’s François Vincent.
The MTQ fights back
At the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ), we confirm that we do not have this type of compensation program, but on the contrary we reply that in this case access to surrounding companies has indeed been maintained.
They responded that major work needed to be done because the Quatre Bourgeois flyover had “reached the end of its useful life.”
“When the ministry is working, it always ensures that access to shops or housing is maintained. This was the case with the overpass repair project,” defends their spokesman, Nicolas Vigneault.
“Citizens and traders in the industry have also been informed of the obstacles to better plan their travel and business activities,” he said.
Notices to residents, press releases, notices… the Quebec Department of Transportation says it has done everything necessary to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
“Notices were sent out to residents and businesses in the area during the weekend’s downtime to update them on upcoming operations,” concludes MTQ’s Nicolas Vigneault.
♦ According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ February Business Barometer, small and medium-sized businesses struggle with a variety of costs, including energy (69%), wages (63%), insurance (59%) and inputs (45%).
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