Quebec and the union representing frontline ambulance crews have reached a tentative labour agreement that covers about 3,500 paramedics across the province, including the more than 1,000 paramedics who work for Urgences-santé in Montreal and Laval.
What the deal means
The tentative settlement, reached after six days of negotiations, ends a prolonged period without an agreed collective agreement that stretched for more than three years. Union leaders said the dispute — punctuated by work stoppages and rotating strike measures that began in July 2025 — centred largely on pay and workplace conditions.
Quebec’s Treasury Board office said the proposed deal would "improve paramedics’ working conditions while helping ensure efficient and continuous ambulance services for the public," though officials and the union have not yet released the specific terms of the agreement. The deal must still be presented to union members for ratification.
Who is affected
The agreement covers paramedics employed across the province, with particular public attention on those in the greater Montreal area who are part of Urgences-santé, the regional public ambulance service serving Montreal and Laval.
| Group | Approximate number covered |
|---|---|
| Total paramedics covered | 3,500 |
| Paramedics at Urgences-santé (Montreal and Laval) | 1,000+ |
Background and impact
Paramedics in Quebec had been working without a new collective agreement for more than three years. The job action that began in mid-2025 included a variety of measures that put pressure on the provincial government, drawing public concern about the continuity and reliability of ambulance services.
Ambulance services are a critical component of the health-care system, and disruptions can have direct consequences for patient outcomes and hospital flow. Provincial authorities framed the tentative deal as a move to preserve uninterrupted services while improving conditions for paramedics, who have argued for better pay and supports in a demanding role.
Next steps
Both the union and Quebec officials said the proposed contract will be presented to union members "as soon as possible" for a ratification vote. Until members vote and the agreement is formally signed, the tentative deal remains subject to change.
- Union to present details to members for ratification.
- Full terms of the agreement have not been publicly released.
- Service continuity in ambulances is expected to be a priority in any final agreement.
What remains unknown
At this stage, the precise wage increases, benefit changes or scheduling adjustments contained in the tentative agreement have not been disclosed. Both sides have kept details confidential pending the union’s internal approval processes.
Observers will be watching for the timeline of the ratification vote and whether the proposed contract resolves the issues that have motivated paramedics’ long-standing demands. If members reject the offer, negotiations would likely resume and could renew labour tensions that have ripple effects across health-care services.
Local context
In Montreal and Laval, Urgences-santé manages a large portion of the region’s emergency medical responses. Any final agreement that stabilizes labour relations there would directly affect thousands of residents who rely on timely ambulance responses.
For now, the announcement is a tentative step toward restoring a formal labour framework for paramedics after years of uncertainty. The union’s membership vote is the immediate milestone that will determine whether the tentative settlement becomes a binding contract.
Coverage will continue as more details are released and as union members cast their ballots on the proposed contract.
