Quebec government engineers begin indefinite strike, disrupting construction sites

Cones mark a road construction site in Lévis. Photo taken on September 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

The general and indefinite strike by government engineers began as planned on Monday morning. It follows a strike that had been taking place every Thursday, as well as in the evenings and on weekends.

There are 1,900 members of the Professional Association of Government Engineers of Quebec (APIGQ), a union independent of the major labour federations.

These engineers work primarily at the Ministry of Transportation, but also at the ministries of Natural Resources, the Environment, Municipal Affairs, and Cybersecurity.

Essential services are being maintained during the strike, but construction sites will inevitably be affected and delayed.

The dispute centres primarily on the allocation of a “sector-specific budget” intended to provide specific benefits to certain job categories deemed a priority.

The Quebec government claims it is offering engineers the same terms as those granted to other government employees—namely, a 17.4 per cent salary increase over five years.

- by Lia Lévesque

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 6, 2026.