The Quebec provincial government and the public ambulance service Urgences-santé announced on July 26 that a tentative collective contract has been reached with the province's paramedics in Montreal and Laval. The agreement covers more than a thousand emergency medical workers who have been operating without a formal contract for several years.
The new deal concludes a prolonged period of negotiations that began after the previous contract expired. Throughout the interim, the paramedics continued to provide ambulance services across the two cities, maintaining the essential emergency response network for residents. The provisional agreement is expected to be presented to the paramedics' union for ratification, after which it would become the governing framework for wages, hours, and working conditions.
Urgences-santé, which employs the over 1,000 paramedics, highlighted the importance of securing a stable labour relationship to ensure uninterrupted service. Government officials emphasized that the settlement reflects a commitment to the health and safety of both the workforce and the public they serve.
While the specific terms of the contract have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that the agreement addresses the key issues that prompted the extended period without a contract. The resolution is seen as a step toward normalising labour relations in Quebec's health sector, which has experienced several disputes in recent years.
The tentative nature of the deal means that final approval will depend on a vote by the paramedic members. Should the union endorse the proposal, the contract will replace the temporary arrangements that have been in place since the previous agreement lapsed. The government and Urgences-santé have expressed readiness to implement the new terms promptly to provide certainty for the workforce and to sustain reliable emergency medical services for Montreal and Laval residents.