Quebec Minister Boulet avoids adding fuel to the fire as tensions rise with unions

Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet responds to reporters questions over a special legislation to be tabled at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Labour Minister Jean Boulet avoided adding fuel to the fire on Wednesday, the day after a tumultuous appearance by the FTQ during special consultations on his bill on union governance.

FTQ President Magali Picard stated that the minister was “innocent or pretending to be innocent” and that he seemed to be a “slow learner” because, after seven years in office, he still did not understand how unions work.

“That’s her opinion,” replied the Labour Minister when asked about the matter on Wednesday morning.

He tried to remain in the background following the heated exchanges.

“I have no intention of judging her comments or her behaviour. Is it healthy, in a democratic process, for someone to express themselves in this way and behave as you saw yesterday?” he asked.

Before the FTQ appeared before the parliamentary committee, the minister tabled a motion in the National Assembly blaming Picard for talking about “paralyzing Quebec” in a tense context between the CAQ government and all the unions.

Boulet then chose to congratulate CSQ President Éric Gingras, who, before the same committee, proposed amending the bill with regard to the financial statement requirements imposed on unions.

However, the FTQ had already proposed a similar amendment, namely to base the requirements for the presentation of financial statements not on the number of members of a union, but on its revenues.

Special consultations on the union governance bill are scheduled to continue on Wednesday and Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 26, 2025.