Quebec passes law forcing unions to open their books, make some dues optional

Quatre dirigeants syndicaux: Éric Gingras, de la CSQ, Robert Comeau, de l'APTS, François Enault, de la CSN et Magali Picard, de la FTQ, photographiés lors d'une conférence de presse à Québec, le 23 février 2024. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Jacques Boissinot

Quebec’s bill on union governance, which establishes the concept of optional union dues among other measures, was passed Thursday by a vote of 70 in favour and 34 against.

The legislation introduces the principle of optional union dues on top of regular membership dues. These optional contributions would fund activities that go beyond the strict defence of members’ rights, such as advertising campaigns or legal challenges to legislation.

The bill also sets out requirements for unions to present audited financial statements, scaled according to their revenues, disclose expenses and hold secret ballot votes over a minimum period of 12 hours.

Since it was introduced, the bill has undergone about 30 amendments, particularly around presenting financial statements.

Labour Minister Jean Boulet said he is convinced the legislation will be “beneficial to unionized workers, who, in exchange for paying their dues, have the right to know and understand how those dues are being used.”

Unions have sharply criticized the bill, viewing it as interference in their internal affairs and an unnecessary bureaucratic burden.

“The bill has been passed, but we will not give up and intend to use every means at our disposal to protect their rights and counter the anti-democratic policies of a government in its final days,” said the presidents of eight major union organizations in a joint statement: Robert Comeau of the APTS, Caroline Senneville of the CSN, Magali Picard of the FTQ, Christian Daigle of CUPE, Guillaume Bouvrette of the SPGQ, Luc Vachon of the CSD, Mélanie Hubert of the FAE, and Éric Gingras of the CSQ.

The president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé (FIQ), Julie Bouchard, struck a more measured tone. “The new law still contains elements that are concerning for union autonomy, but the work we carried out allowed us to obtain important adjustments. Together, we managed to make the voice of healthcare professionals heard, and we will continue that work,” she said.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 2 2026.