A major Quebec labour group has launched a legal challenge of a new provincial law that affects union governance and transparency. The Confédération des syndicats nationaux, one of the largest union federations in the province, is challenging the law at the Quebec Superior Court. The challenge comes after the federation and eight other large labour groups in Quebec filed a complaint about the law to the International Labour Organization in July. The law introduces a new category of optional union dues on top of the regular union fees that are deducted on employee paycheques. Unions would need rely on the optional dues to fund activities such as advertising campaigns or legal challenges, under the new law. The provincial government has said the law would benefit workers and give them a better understanding of how their dues are used. The new law also forces labour organizations to publish information on their finances and secret ballot procedures. In the new legal challenge, the labour federation alleged that the law violates the freedom of association and freedom of expression. It is asking the Superior Court to declare the law unconstitutional, invalid, and unenforceable. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept.1 2026.
