Dominic Ricard, president of the Quebec Provincial Police Association (APPQ), announced his resignation on Friday, in the midst of negotiations regarding the renewal of the police employment contract.
Posted at 8:27 p.m.
Updated at 10:05 p.m.
“The ways of doing things have changed and the needs expressed by the members are part of a model that is different from what suits me and what I can offer. […]. We were led to negotiate in an archaic way, like the negotiations of the 1970s. For 15 years, we had found a way to negotiate peacefully! “wrote the union leader on Facebook.
The APPQ has been in negotiations since 2021 for the renewal of the employment contract of the police officers of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which expired last March. The Association is in particular putting pressure on the management to reduce the compulsory overtime which “exhausts” the troops, according to Dominic Ricard.
Staff retention and psychological health issues among police officers have also been discussed at the bargaining table for the past few weeks. In a press release published on September 15, the APPQ denounced that “since the arrival of the Treasury Board Secretariat at the negotiating table last May, things have been moving too slowly”.
“After more than a year of negotiations, we have to admit that the Treasury Board has a lack of knowledge of the police profession and that it has no recognition of the involvement and work of a police force in level 6”, underlined Dominic Ricard.
SQ police officers were surprised by the union leader’s announcement. “No one expected that today, but the decision to leave the ranks is up to him,” reacted Nicolas Roberge, head of the media relations broadcasting service at the SQ. However, he reiterates that the negotiations will continue “despite the withdrawal of Mr. Ricard”.
On Friday evening, some agents signaled their support for Dominic Ricard across the province. “SQ police officers turned on the flashing lights of their vehicle and sounded their siren, around 7 p.m., for a period of approximately five minutes”, reported the Daily.
PHOTO GIMMY DESBIENS, THE DAILY
Police officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) from all over the province demonstrated Friday evening, flashing lights and sirens in support, their solidarity with the resigning president of their union.
The resigning president of the APPQ indicated that he will remain in office until the end of the replacement process which will begin next Monday.