In early May, the SAAQ broke new ground by offering to reimburse its employees’ public transit tickets until the end of the year. A month and a half later, the Treasury Board ordered the end of the measure: such an incentive represents, according to him, “a form of indirect remuneration” that should be framed in a collective agreement.
“The measure will end on July 11,” said SAAQ spokesperson Mario Vaillancourt by email. We have been informed that this benefit unfortunately cannot be applied as desired since it would constitute a modification to the current working conditions. »
The SAAQ had planned $350,000 to finance the measure until December 31, 2022. Since its implementation, Mr. Vaillancourt said by email, 33 employees have claimed a refund, for an amount of $1,843. “It should be noted, adds the spokesperson, that other requests for reimbursement could be made, because employees have until the end of the measure to make a request. »
The main purpose of the incentive was originally to facilitate the return to the office of personnel. Asked about the premature end of the measure, the Treasury Board maintains that “the reimbursement of public transport and parking costs is a monetary work condition, since it is a form of indirect remuneration. »
In the eyes of the Treasury Board, the incentive must be included in “written agreements” so that employees can take advantage of it.
“Aberrant”, according to the union
The Quebec Public Service Union (SFPQ), which claims some 40,000 members, deplores the government’s volte-face.
“It’s completely absurd,” says the president of the SFPQ. The government is being criticized for not doing enough for the environment and it is nipping an initiative that was actually good for the planet. »
In his opinion, the Treasury Board probably fears that the measure put in place by the SAAQ will snowball within the public service.
“There is no doubt a desire not to see this measure extend, believes Mr. Daigle. But we would have every interest, as a society, in this spreading! »
He believes that the reimbursement of public service transport tickets, already widely offered in the private sector, has several advantages. “It reduces congestion on major arteries, it reduces pollution and it helps fund public transit. In addition, continues the union leader, it helps to make the public service more attractive. »
Christian Daigle maintains that his union is ready “as of tomorrow morning” to sit down with the Treasury Board to negotiate the extension of the incentive first put in place by the SAAQ. “Having initiatives like that is beneficial. The other ministries should be inspired by it, concludes the president of the SFPQ. Rather than paying for public transit out of taxes, the government could consider financing it by reimbursing public transit fares. »
Dunce in the matter
The Quebec state pales in comparison to other administrations when it comes to encouraging the use of public transit within its public service. As early as 2000, for example, then US President Bill Clinton ordered the implementation of transit fare reimbursement programs in all federal government agencies.
At the time, the US Department of Transportation estimated that between 75,000 and 100,000 public servants would benefit from the program, reducing the number of miles traveled by car by 40 to 54 million (from 64 to 87 million km).
In Quebec, there are very few initiatives of this kind within the government apparatus. The Ministry of Transport, for example, like the Ministry of the Environment, does not offer any incentive to its public servants to take public transit when commuting to work.
Asked about the Treasury Board’s decision to cancel the measure proposed by the SAAQ, the office of the Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, did not wish to react – rather referring The duty to Treasury Board.