St-Hubert sale to Swiss Chalet sparks quick reaction in Quebec

St-Hubert BBQwill still maintain its fulloperationsin Quebec after its sale to an Ontario company, but many in la belle provincefeel a sense of loss.

The homegrownchicken chain has been sold toCaraOperations Ltd. for$537million.

• Swiss Chalet ownersCarabuying St-Hubert for $537M
• YOUR TWEETS:It's a chicken coup! St-Hubert sale flares social frenzy in Quebec

The Ontario company will not only get 117 restaurants, buttwo foodmanufacturing plants, two distribution centres and a real estate portfolio.

Politicians react

"It's a sad day for Quebec,"PartiQubcoisLeader Pierre KarlPladeautweeted on Thursday morning soon after news brokeof the chain's $537-million sale toCara, the owner of theSwiss Chalet chain.

Politicians and commentators quickly drew parallels with the takeover of another Quebec business institution, Rona,byU.S. home improvement chain Lowe's.

"AfterRona, it's as if Quebec is for sale under PhilippeCouillard," thePQ'sBernardDrainvillesaid on Twitter.

• Rona sale should be halted by Quebec government: PQ

YolandeJames, CBC Montreal's political analyst and a former provincial Liberal member of the National Assembly, said the St-Hubert sale isn't good news for the Liberal government.

"Every person, similar to theRonadispute that occurred about a month ago, everyQuebecerrelates to St-Hubert," James told CBC'sDaybreak.

Franois Legault, theleader of the Coalition Avenir Qubec, described the St-Hubert sale asanother Quebec jewel lost.

Legaultcriticized the provincial government, and said Quebecwas becoming a branchplant economy.

"A quiet decline of the Quebec economy," Legault tweeted.

'I hope they don't ruin it'

Quebecers immediately took to Twitter to express their worriesover the sale, with many wondering if it means the end of St-Hubert's famous gravy sauce.

• YOUR TWEETS:It's a chicken coup! St-Hubert sale flares social frenzy in Quebec

Others wondered if it meant the Quebec landmark would disappear for goodin favour of a Swiss Chalet takeover.

"The chicken dinner monopoly inCanada has now been solidified," oneTwitter user wrote.