Happy with the agreement reached in principle overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday at the Regional Transportation Center, Prime Minister Legault does not rule out making changes so that public transportation in Quebec is recognized as an essential service.
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After a four-day strike by Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) drivers in Quebec City, where no bus service was provided, Prime Minister François Legault said: “I am glad there is an agreement in principle.
The Administrative Labor Tribunal has ruled that drivers are not required to provide an essential service, based on the law specifying that only health and safety issues can be invoked. Mr. Legault backtracked on his belief that public transit could be considered an essential service in the future.
“The way the law is written, there is a burden of proof. You have to be able to prove that it is a necessary service. This is something that should not be left out at the end of the day,” the Prime Minister said on the sidelines of the opening of the third stage of the Samuel de Champlain Walk.
“It’s a broad definition of essential service and it’s good to have it.”
He added that this had to be considered on a case-by-case basis. “I don’t think anything should be ruled out. […] Indeed, the way it works, we can, if we go before the commission or the commission, perhaps prove that it is an essential service.
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