More than three months after the Quebec Labour Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal administratif du travail – TAT) ordered the suspension of solo patrol operations to protect Quebec enforcement officers, none of the 27 identified safety violations have been fully resolved.
This is according to an update from the Fédération des constables de contrôle routier du Québec (FCCRQ), which represents provincial road safety enforcement officers. The federation’s latest communication presents a concerning status report, raising serious questions about the employer’s ability to implement basic workplace protections.
Delays Despite Deadlines
Out of the 27 safety violations highlighted in the TAT ruling, 15 are currently marked as “in progress.” The remainder are still awaiting review. The employer, Quebec’s automobile insurance board (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec – SAAQ), was originally given 120 days to address these deficiencies. That deadline has now passed. Although extensions have been granted by Quebec’s occupational health and safety board (CNESST), concrete corrective measures are still pending.
Timeline Extensions
Violations numbered 1 to 6, along with 10, 11, and 25 to 27, have received deadline extensions through January 5, 2026. These involve critical safety failures directly affecting officers in the field.
For example:
- The first six violations highlight the absence of proper protocols for high-risk interventions, especially in remote areas or during unplanned vehicle stops.
- Violations 10 and 11 point to failures in communication equipment that hinder or prevent effective emergency response.
- Violations 25 to 27 concern internal operational issues, undue pressure placed on officers, and lack of coordination between Contrôle routier Québec (CRQ) and law enforcement.
An additional group of violations (numbers 7 to 9, 12 to 14, and 16 to 21) have been extended until September 15, 2025. These relate to supervision, logistics, and training issues.
Key concerns include:
- No backup support during potentially dangerous situations.
- Incomplete follow-up procedures after reports of threats or assault.
- Infrequent or inadequate training programs that fall short of the standards upheld by Quebec’s police academy (École nationale de police du Québec), despite officers facing similar risks to police forces.
Violations 15, 22, 23, and 24 were only recently submitted to CNESST inspectors. No compliance deadlines have been set yet.
Political Decisions Still Pending
According to the FCCRQ, several of the unresolved violations hinge on upcoming government decisions. These include whether enforcement officers will be armed, how CRQ will coordinate with police intelligence via the Centre de renseignements policiers du Québec (CRPQ), and potential reforms to officer training. Many corrective actions cannot be implemented until these matters are officially settled.
Two follow-up meetings with CNESST and the employer are scheduled—one in late July and another in mid-September.
What the Tribunal Ruled
In March 2025, administrative judge Danielle Tremblay ruled that the SAAQ was failing in its obligations under Quebec’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. The decision cited three major deficiencies:
- Unsafe work methods;
- Lack of ongoing training adapted to real-world risks;
- Organizational structures exposing officers to preventable danger.
The tribunal also noted that Quebec’s road safety enforcement officers, while officially designated as peace officers and special constables, are not equipped or supported adequately to deal with violent or aggressive drivers.
A System Under Strain
Although the tone of the FCCRQ’s latest communication is factual, it highlights persistent safety concerns that remain unresolved. Without active roadside patrols, non-compliant drivers are free to bypass weigh stations without consequences—raising the risk of dangerous vehicles or reckless behaviour going unchecked. The lack of targeted roadside enforcement presents a real and growing threat to public safety.
Meanwhile, the SAAQ continues to be embroiled in legal and political turbulence, including lawsuits, unfavourable tribunal rulings, and public inquiries such as the Gallant Commission, which is examining failures in the SAAQclic digital system. These ongoing proceedings are time-consuming and costly for taxpayers, while basic enforcement services—such as those offered by Contrôle routier Québec—remain under-equipped and partially suspended.
When one of the province’s largest public-sector employers repeatedly fails to safeguard its own officers, public trust begins to erode. The state’s inability to ensure even the most basic workplace safety protections reflects a system under pressure—one that struggles to deliver the core functions expected of a responsible government.
