Duchesne et fils is moving toward an avis de liquidation that would end its activities, after 90 employees were laid off on Thursday in Yamachiche. The company, long a major employer in the Maskinongé region, is now racing against the clock as its remaining staff stay on until April 24. The pressure is rising because the notice is expected to be filed before the Superior Court, and that filing would seal the shutdown.
90 layoffs hit Duchesne et fils as closure steps accelerate
The company had 140 employees when its financial troubles became public in January, when it sought protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act to try to complete a restructuring. The latest move leaves about 50 workers in place only to handle shipments and related tasks before the expected liquidation process. In practical terms, Duchesne et fils is now operating under a shrinking timeline, with the end of its business activity tied to the court process.
The situation worsened after a liquidity crisis, driven in part by U. S. tariffs and a drop in orders. The controller, Ernst & Young, is expected to file the notice of liquidation before the Superior Court, which would mark the company’s closure because of bankruptcy. The company’s main financial creditors are the Business Development Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada, and their combined claims exceed 30 million dollars.
Unions, workers and management describe a sudden turn
Daniel Cloutier of Unifor said the announcement came as a shock and that workers learned the company had been told to stop ordering raw materials. He said the 90 layoffs made the situation “desperate” and added that the union is trying to reach the controller without success. Cloutier also said Duchesne et fils had received buyout offers in recent weeks and that Unifor will try to clarify the situation in the coming days.
Christian Dauphinais, who said management put together an alternative offer with financing from friends and family, said the goal was to save Duchesne et fils and keep the company moving toward its 100th anniversary in 2027. He said the company had started to see better results since January, including improved operations and signs of a recovering market. Still, he said the offer was rejected by the creditors, and he described the outcome as frustrating.
Duchesne et fils and the last window before court action
Steeve Boulanger, the mayor of Yamachiche, said the news is deeply troubling for the town and the wider region. Simon Allaire, the member of the National Assembly for Maskinongé, said the situation is at risk and that the two other funders, BDC and RBC, would need to support the company for a rescue to work. Richard Darveau, president of the Quebec association of hardware and building materials, said the sector is still waiting for more protection and encouragement from the federal government.
For now, the next key moment is April 24, when the expected filing would move Duchesne et fils into liquidation unless a last-minute change alters the course. The company’s remaining workers are staying long enough to manage the final shipments, but the future beyond that date remains highly uncertain for Duchesne et fils.
What happens next
In the coming days, attention will stay on the controller, the creditors and the court timeline. Any change would have to come quickly, because the current plan points toward liquidation and an end to the company’s operations. For employees, families and the Yamachiche region, Duchesne et fils is now at the edge of a deadline that could decide whether there is any path left forward.
