‘Symbolic gesture’: Quebec paramedics flip over non-functioning ambulance during protest outside National Assembly

Quebec paramedics demonstrating outside the National Assembly in Quebec City on Tuesday flipped over a “non-functioning ambulance” as part of their protest.

A representative of the FSSS–CSN union told CityNews the ambulance was purchased as a “symbolic gesture.”

“They bought an ambulance that doesn’t work to show that their work environment doesn’t work,” said Jean Gagnon, the FSSS–CSN representative for the pre-hospital sector.

Former CAQ cabinet minister and now leadership candidate Bernard Drainville denounced the protest stunt in post on X.

“The CSN turned an ambulance around today in front of the National Assembly,” Drainville wrote. “This is the kind of unionism that the world is sick of, and that I will continue to denounce loudly and clearly!”

In a press scrum, Drainville said it was unacceptable for union members to overturn an ambulance, destroying public property.

But the union says the ambulance was destined for a scrap yard and was no longer in service.

“The ambulance is out of the road since a long time. We have removed all the fluid. It was flipped securely with a crane,” A spokesperson for the CSN union told CityNews.

Quebec paramedics are denouncing the government’s stalled negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreement. 

The unionized workers say proper recognition of their work and relief from chronic overload remain the central issues in negotiations with the province. Talks are set to resume Friday.

–With files from The Canadian Press