The ongoing dispute between the Fraternité des agents de Contrôle routier du Québec (FCCRQ) and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) remains bogged down in legal procedures that could stretch for up to 30 months. In the meantime, Quebec’s highways remain without active patrolling, and the return of full patrols by the agents appears distant.
On March 28, the Superior Court dismissed the SAAQ’s request to stay the decision from the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT), which had imposed 27 non-compliance notices on the SAAQ. The next legal step, initially scheduled for April 8, was postponed to April 29. However, no substantive arguments or decisions will take place on that day. Instead, the lawyers for the SAAQ, the TAT, the CNESST, and the FCCRQ will only set the timeline necessary to prepare their cases.
Only after this phase will a hearing schedule be set, and based on the current state of proceedings in the Superior Court, the timeline for a full hearing could range from 16 to 30 months.
During this time, as long as the SAAQ fails to implement the protection measures mandated by the court—including arming the officers—the agents of Contrôle routier du Québec will remain confined to their inspection stations and will not resume active patrols. The absence of surveillance on Quebec’s highways could continue much longer than initially expected, particularly since further requests for stays may still be filed.
It is important to note that CNESST inspectors are currently involved in the case, and discussions are taking place between the parties to explore ways to operate outside the inspection stations while respecting the court’s ruling. However, no timeline for such a resolution has been given.
On March 6, 2025, the TAT ordered immediate compliance to enhance the safety of Contrôle routier du Québec officers. The TAT determined that the work of the officers had become dangerously unsafe, and that they could no longer patrol without firearms and other necessary protective measures. This decision underscores the heightened risks faced by the officers in their duties, which have been exacerbated by the lack of adequate safety measures. The court’s ruling demands that the SAAQ take immediate action to provide these critical protections, ensuring that the officers can safely carry out their responsibilities on Quebec’s highways.
While the administrative battle drags on, poorly maintained trucks, non-compliant practices, and violations continue to slip through the cracks, increasing the risks to the entire highway network. The absence of patrols on the ground has turned Quebec’s highways into a playground for fraudulent carriers—and more worryingly, for those exploiting the network for criminal purposes.
While agents are demanding to be armed to confront this growing problem, it is those who flout the laws who are now driving without fear of being stopped, inspected, or held accountable.
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