Quebec City, 17 April 2026 — The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ welcomes the ruling handed down on April 15, 2026 by the Administrative Labour Tribunal (TAT), which dismissed the Treasury Board’s application for review and thereby confirmed a major step forward in pay equity for specialized nurse practitioners (SNP).

In this ruling, the TAT confirms that the government cannot go back, and recognition of the full academic pathway for SNPs must be maintained. This is a clear reminder that the required training for practising this profession must be fully taken into account in the salary evaluation.

The FIQ points out that, in November 2024, the TAT had already ruled in favour of the Federation, finding that the Québec government was required to recognize the full academic pathway of SNPs, including the Diploma of Advanced Studies (D.E.S.S.), in their salary evaluation, and that this had been the case since 2010. This ruling canceled the previous position of the Treasury Board and the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), which refused this recognition, and now forces the government to make the adjustments required for pay equity.

For Jérôme Rousseau, Vice-President of the Organization of Work and Professional Practice Sector and the Negotiation Sector, the Tribunal’s message is crystal clear. “We’ve been saying it for years: SNPs undergo a demanding, specialized course of study, and this must be recognized for what it is. The Tribunal is, once again, reminding the government that it cannot pretend that the D.E.S.S. does not exist. It is simply a matter of justice.”

The FIQ believes that this new ruling should put an end to any disputes by the government and reiterates that the time has come to take action. “The rulings are clear. What we are now looking for are concrete changes in the field. SNPs deserve pay that truly reflects their expertise and their vital contribution to the health network. The Treasury Board must end this persistent injustice and take swift action to make the necessary corrections for the SNPs”, added Julie Daignault, Vice-Presidente of the Occupational Health and Safety, Human Resources and Social Security Sectors, officer for the pay equity file.

The Federation emphasizes that this TAT decision stems from the efforts it has initiated and supported, in collaboration with several labour organizations in the public health network, including the CSN, FTQ, CSQ and APTS, in relation to pay equity and vocational training.