Employers of Montreal paramedics have turned to the courts to intervene in what they describe as escalating pressure tactics that threaten public safety. The legal action, filed on June 22, 2026, seeks to halt work-to-rule measures and other actions by paramedics amid ongoing contract negotiations.
Court filing details
The application, submitted by the Association des services de préhospitaliers du Québec (ASPHQ), argues that the paramedics' tactics violate essential services agreements and endanger patient care. According to the filing, paramedics have been refusing overtime, taking longer breaks, and strictly adhering to protocols, causing response delays.
“These actions are not only illegal but also put lives at risk,” said ASPHQ spokesperson Marie-Claude Lacroix. “We have no choice but to ask the court to enforce the law.”
Union responds
The Syndicat des paramédics de Montréal (SPM) countered that the tactics are a legitimate response to stalled negotiations over wages, working conditions, and staffing shortages. “Our members are overworked and underpaid,” said union president Jean-François Tremblay. “We are simply exercising our rights within the legal framework.”
The union has been without a contract since December 2025, with talks breaking down in March 2026. Paramedics have been working under a provincial essential services decree that limits strike action but allows pressure tactics.
Impact on services
Data from Urgences-santé, the regional emergency service, shows that average response times for priority calls have increased by 12% since the tactics began in May 2026. In some cases, ambulances have taken up to 15 minutes longer to reach patients.
“We are seeing delays that could have serious consequences,” said Dr. Émilie Gagnon, an emergency physician at Montreal General Hospital. “Every minute counts in a cardiac arrest or severe trauma.”
Broader context
The dispute reflects a wider labour crisis in Quebec’s healthcare system. Paramedics face high turnover, with a 20% annual attrition rate, and chronic understaffing. The employers’ association has offered a 5% wage increase over three years, which the union rejects as insufficient.
“We need a fair deal that recognizes the demands of the job,” Tremblay added. “Our paramedics are leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere.”
The court is expected to hear the case on June 29, 2026. Meanwhile, both sides have been called to mediation by the provincial labour minister.
