Quebec Ties Licensing to Tax and Labor Checks

Summary#

• This bill changes Quebec’s Highway Safety Code.

• It would require the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the province’s licensing and auto insurance agency, to sign agreements with other government bodies to help enforce five other Quebec laws: tax, immigration, labour standards, workplace health and safety, and transport.

• It also deletes two items from an existing article and adds a new clause that makes these agreements mandatory.

• Key changes:

  • SAAQ must make agreements with ministries or agencies named by the Minister of Transport.
  • The agreements are meant to help apply: the Income Tax Act (Quebec), the Quebec Immigration Act, the Labour Standards Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Transport Act.
  • The bill does not spell out the content of the agreements (for example, what data is shared or what actions SAAQ would take).
  • The law would take effect on the date it is officially approved.

What it means for you#

• General public and drivers

  • No immediate change to daily driving rules.
  • In the future, some SAAQ services (like licensing or vehicle registration) could be linked to checks or information from other departments, depending on what the agreements say.
  • Your personal information could be shared between SAAQ and other ministries for enforcement purposes, within the limits set by the agreements and existing privacy laws. The bill itself does not detail these safeguards.

• Workers and job seekers

  • Labour standards and workplace safety rules could be enforced with help from SAAQ systems or data. This may support actions against unsafe or non‑compliant employers.
  • The bill does not explain specific tools or steps; impacts would depend on the agreements.

• Businesses and transport companies

  • There could be closer coordination between SAAQ and agencies that oversee taxes, labour, safety, and transport operations.
  • Companies may face more checks tied to permits, registrations, or operating authority, depending on the agreements.

• Newcomers and immigrants

  • SAAQ may coordinate with the immigration ministry when issuing or renewing licences or IDs, if set in the agreements. Details are not specified in the bill.

• Taxpayers

  • The change aims to help enforce Quebec’s tax laws. This could include information sharing to track compliance. Specific measures are not described in the bill.

Expenses#

• Estimated fiscal impact: No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Better coordination: Making agreements mandatory should improve cooperation across agencies and close gaps in enforcement.
• Fairness: Stronger enforcement of tax, labour, safety, and transport rules helps ensure everyone plays by the same rules.
• Worker protection: Closer ties with labour and safety regulators could help catch employers who break standards or put workers at risk.
• Public safety: Tighter links with the Transport Act could support safer vehicles and operators on the road.
• Clarity: A clear duty for SAAQ to make agreements can speed up action instead of leaving it optional.

Opponents' View#

• Privacy concerns: Sharing personal data across agencies could expand government access to information if safeguards are weak or unclear.
• Mission creep: Using driver licensing or vehicle registration to enforce non‑traffic laws could punish people in ways not directly tied to road safety.
• Due process: If SAAQ services are linked to other obligations, people might face holds or delays without clear appeal paths. The bill does not outline protections.
• Administrative burden: Negotiating and managing multiple agreements could add red tape and costs without proven benefits.
• Lack of detail: The bill does not specify what the agreements must include, how data will be protected, or what limits apply, making impacts hard to judge.