Amazon has announced plans to close all of its Quebec facilities, laying off 1,700 permanent employees, months after workers in Laval, Que., made history by unionizing. Experts say the move could prompt legal challenges under Quebec labour laws.

Unions had gained a foothold in one of the company’s warehouses in the province, though Amazon would not say if there was a connection.

Amazon.com said it is open to talks with officials from the Canadian and Quebec governments about the decision to shut down operations in the country’s French-speaking province, which would lead to 1,