On August 9, 2026, paramedics working in the cities of Montreal and Laval cast votes that resulted in a 60 percent majority rejecting a tentative agreement that had been reached with the Quebec provincial government. The ballot was taken among members of the paramedic unions in both municipalities and the outcome signals that the proposed deal did not secure the support required to be accepted.
The tentative agreement in question was the product of negotiations that began in July 2026. During that month, representatives of the paramedic unions met with officials from the Quebec government to discuss the terms of a new contract. The discussions produced a draft accord that was presented to union members for approval. No specific details of the agreement’s provisions have been disclosed publicly, and the unions have not released further commentary beyond announcing the vote.
Union members in Montreal and Laval participated in the voting process on the same day, and the combined result showed that just four in ten paramedics voted in favour of the deal, while six in ten chose to reject it. The rejection means that the tentative agreement will not take effect and that the parties will need to return to the negotiating table to address the concerns raised by the majority of voting members.
The Quebec government has indicated that it remains open to continuing dialogue with the paramedic unions, though no timeline for a new round of talks has been announced. Both the Montreal and Laval paramedic bodies have signalled their intention to pursue further discussions in order to reach a settlement that meets the expectations of their members. The outcome of the vote adds another step to the ongoing labor negotiations affecting emergency medical services in the province.