The rate of absenteeism in Quebec’s public service has increased in recent years across agencies and ministries, costing the government nearly $250 million in 2025-2026. Recently released figures from the Quebec Treasury Board Secretariat show the rate rose from 5.85 per cent in 2024-2025 to 6.37 per cent in 2025-2026, an increase of 0.52 percentage points. In 2024-2025, absenteeism cost the province approximately $225 million. In a statement to CTV News, the Secretariat said it was “concerned” about the trend. “In this context, departments and agencies have been informed of the situation and encouraged to implement appropriate measures, consistent with their respective realities, to reduce the absenteeism rate.” But Frédérick Dagenais, the Quebec Public Service Union (SFPQ)’s regional president for Centre-du-Québec, Estrie and Mauricie, said he attributes the increase to government budget cuts that have led to layoffs and heavier workloads. “I think excessive workload is by far the biggest problem today. People going on disability leave doesn’t save money. It actually costs money. If employees are replaced, that costs money,” he said. “If they aren’t replaced, then there’s simply a hole left in the organization. Either way, it’s not saving money.” The SFPQ represents about 40,000 members across Quebec, including about 26,000 public servants. Dagenais noted that when the government announced spending cuts in 2024, the union warned the measures amounted to austerity. He added that, when those savings are considered alongside other government expenditures and subcontracting costs, they become insignificant. “The government has eliminated more than 3,000 positions in Quebec. If some departments were already struggling before, then now those same departments simply have more files and fewer people,” Dagenais said. “This didn’t start yesterday. Governments have been trying for years to spend less on public services. The Legault government simply accelerated that trend.”
