Mid‑June, members of Quebec's largest paramedics union placed bags of manure on the steps of several CAQ cabinet ministers' offices in a public protest. The action, carried out the week before June 18, 2026, was intended to signal the union's frustration with contract negotiations that have stalled with the provincial government.
Union representatives distributed the manure in sealed bags and left them on the stairways leading to the ministers' offices in the provincial capital. The move was directed at cabinet ministers of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), the party currently governing the province. By using the symbolic gesture, the union aimed to draw attention to the impasse in talks over a new collective agreement for paramedics.
Negotiations between the paramedics and the government have been at a standstill for several weeks, with both sides reporting difficulties in reaching a consensus on wage increases, staffing levels and working conditions. The union has warned that the lack of progress could affect the delivery of emergency medical services across the province.
Officials from the CAQ have not issued a detailed response to the manure placement, but the incident has added pressure on the government to address the concerns raised by the paramedics. The protest follows a series of actions by public sector unions in Quebec that have sought to highlight labor disputes through visible demonstrations.
The union's decision to use manure as a protest tool reflects a growing sense of urgency among its members, who contend that the stalled talks threaten both their professional interests and the quality of emergency care provided to the public. As the dispute continues, the provincial government is expected to resume negotiations in the coming weeks to prevent further escalation.
The incident underscores the heightened tensions surrounding labor relations in Quebec's health sector and marks a notable escalation in the tactics employed by the paramedics union to draw attention to their demands.