Mass Labour Mobilization Hits Montreal Streets
Montreal is preparing for a significant demonstration as nine major labour organizations and community groups converge downtown on Saturday afternoon to protest against the Legault government's policies. The march, scheduled for approximately 1:30 p.m. on November 30, 2025, has been dubbed "In the Streets for Quebec" and represents one of the largest public mobilizations against the government since Premier François Legault took office in 2018.
Who's Protesting and Why
The demonstration brings together an impressive coalition of labour power, including the FTQ, CSN, CSQ, CSD, FIQ, FAE, APTS, SPGQ and SFPQ. Collectively, these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of workers across Quebec. They're joined by five national networks representing approximately 4,500 community organizations, creating a broad front of opposition to the government's current direction.
Protest organizers point to multiple specific grievances driving the mobilization. Crowded emergency rooms, longer wait times for social services, teacher shortages, and industrial worker uncertainty top the list of concerns. Several groups also criticize changes to how the government interacts with public-sector unions, arguing these modifications have weakened unions' ability to effectively represent workers.
The Core Complaint: A Rightward Shift
Beyond individual policy complaints, the unifying theme driving Saturday's demonstration is the accusation that the Legault government is undergoing a significant political transformation. Unions charge that Quebec is shifting away from social priorities and reducing institutional checks and balances, effectively becoming an increasingly right-wing, hardline government.
In a joint statement, the participating organizations declared: "With the increasing number of cuts to public services, the underfunding of social programs, numerous economic dysfunctions, and attacks on checks and balances, the Legault government is embarking on a rightward shift that jeopardizes the Quebec that generations have built together."
The statement further emphasized that "by seeking to restrict the scope of action of trade unions, it is the entire civil society that finds itself under direct attack."
Government Response and Political Context
The Legault government has consistently defended its fiscal approach and policies, maintaining that budget decisions reflect economic conditions and long-term sustainability goals. Ministers have argued that spending adjustments are necessary to stabilize public finances amid challenging economic circumstances.
This protest occurs against a backdrop of declining political support for the government. A recent Léger poll conducted for Journal de Montréal and TVA Nouvelles found more than 70 percent of respondents were unsatisfied with Legault's government, representing the lowest approval level since he was first elected.
The government has attempted to reshape its image through several major initiatives, including a proposed Quebec constitution, new union-governance framework, and sweeping changes to physician remuneration. However, each reform has triggered significant pushback from affected groups, including the labour organizations now taking to the streets.
The protest also follows recent criticism from legal professionals, including Marcel-Olivier Nadeau, head of the Barreau de Québec, who suggested the government was drifting "towards authoritarianism" in relation to certain reforms.
What Protesters Hope to Achieve
Organizers describe Saturday's march as a demonstration of the breadth of concern among workers and community groups across Quebec. They aim to send a clear message that social justice remains non-negotiable and that building a strong society requires robust public debate rather than restrictions on democratic participation.
As the unions stated collectively: "We will march to affirm that social justice is non-negotiable and that we do not build a strong society by stifling debate. Together, let us make the voice of a united Quebec heard."
The outcome of this significant mobilization could have substantial implications for the Legault government's political future and its ability to implement its legislative agenda in the face of growing organized opposition.
