Logging Company President Condemns Destructive Arson Attack on Forestry Equipment
The president of a prominent Quebec logging firm has issued a strong condemnation following a deliberate fire that destroyed valuable forestry equipment in the Mékinac region. Antoine Langlois, founder and president of Forex Langlois Inc., described the incident as part of a dangerous escalation by anti-logging activists that has created what he calls a "social crisis" in the Mauricie area.
Deliberate Destruction of Equipment
According to Quebec provincial police, the fire was intentionally set during the night of February 21-22 near Lac en Coeur in the municipality of Lac-aux-Sables. The blaze completely destroyed a delimber machine used for removing branches from felled trees and a log grapple designed for moving timber. Sergeant Valérie Beauchamp of the Sûreté du Québec confirmed that investigators believe the fire was deliberately ignited, though no arrests have been made and no group has claimed responsibility.
"These actions are serious and could have put lives in danger," Langlois emphasized. "Behind this equipment, there are workers, subcontractors, and families who make a living from their work with heart and with pride. The impact of this action is human and financial, and it deeply upsets everyone concerned."
Pattern of Sabotage Activities
This incident follows similar sabotage activities in the same region. In late January, an anonymous group claiming affiliation with the Soulèvements du fleuve collective took responsibility for inserting metal spikes into trees in the Mékinac forest north of Ste-Thècle. The activists stated they targeted "work sites of controversial forest logging" and posted warnings to workers about potential injury and equipment damage from cutting the spiked trees.
The anonymous group defended their actions by highlighting what they describe as exceptional forest ecosystems in the area, including old-growth forests around Grandbois Lake containing 200-year-old yellow birches and habitat for vulnerable species. They claimed that despite increasing citizen protests, logging activities have continued to expand in the region.
Mixed Reactions from Conservation Groups
Not all environmental advocates support these aggressive tactics. The collective Ensemble vers la réserve de biodiversité Mékinac issued a public statement firmly denouncing what they called "criminal acts" committed in the Mékinac area. The group, which advocates for establishing a protected biodiversity reserve in the sector, emphasized their commitment to peaceful approaches and respect for institutional processes.
"This collective completely disassociates itself from these violent actions that do not reflect at all our values of respect and dialogue," the group stated. "It is regrettable that a business that was duly authorized to undertake work in the area should now have to assume the financial repercussions of these actions."
Company Calls for Government Intervention
Langlois expressed frustration with what he perceives as government inaction following the vandalism. He noted that while his company operates within government-authorized frameworks for territorial planning and volume allocations, the pressure from activist conflicts falls entirely on businesses like his.
"We called on the government after these criminal acts were committed, with no response to this day," Langlois revealed. "We need open and constructive dialogue between the parties concerned to avoid a repeat of this type of escalation. We are asking the government to take concrete action to protect workers, small and medium-sized businesses and more broadly, to preserve social cohesion."
The logging company president emphasized that while his firm has listened to citizen concerns about forest preservation, the government ultimately determines where logging operations occur. He called for the Quebec government to restore order and ensure the safety of workers and businesses operating legally in the forestry sector.
Quebec's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests did not respond to requests for comment regarding the incident or the company's concerns about government protection for authorized forestry operations.
