Montreal, Quebec – On July 26, 2026, the provincial government of Quebec announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the province’s paramedics, who are represented by Urgences-santé, the public ambulance service. The deal covers more than 1,000 paramedics working primarily in Montreal and Laval and ends a multi‑year period during which the workforce operated without a formal contract.
The agreement follows prolonged negotiations that began after the previous contract expired several years ago. During that interval, paramedics continued to provide emergency medical services across the province while their employment terms remained unsettled. The new tentative deal is intended to provide a framework for wages, working conditions and other employment standards, although final approval will still require ratification by the relevant parties.
Government officials indicated that reaching a tentative accord was a priority, given the essential nature of emergency medical response and the strain that contract uncertainty placed on both staff and service delivery. Urgences-santé, as the employer and bargaining representative, welcomed the progress, noting that the settlement will bring stability to the workforce and allow attention to shift back to patient care.
Paramedics, who have been operating without a binding agreement for several years, are expected to review the terms before voting on ratification. The tentative nature of the agreement means that adjustments could still be made before a final contract is signed.
The development is seen as a significant step toward normalizing labor relations in Quebec’s health sector. It follows a broader pattern of collective bargaining efforts across the province’s public services, where extended periods without contracts have prompted government‑union dialogues.
If ratified, the contract will mark the first formal agreement for Quebec’s paramedics in many years, providing a clear framework for future employment conditions and potentially influencing negotiations in other public‑sector unions.