Consultation on Draft Law for Environmental Protection by the Commission
The construction holiday period in Quebec has seen a concerning increase in road fatalities, with 38 deaths reported in 2025, marking the worst toll in 10 years. This is a significant rise compared to previous years: 13 deaths in 2022, 24 in 2023, and a decrease to 18 in 2024.
According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), these 38 fatalities occurred in 31 collisions during the two-week construction holiday from July 18 to August 3, 2025. Most fatal crashes involve a single vehicle and are linked primarily to human factors such as distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving (due to drugs or alcohol), and failure to wear seatbelts. Driver fatigue is also a major factor, responsible for about one in four fatal accidents in Quebec, with the construction holiday period ranked among the deadliest annually.
Statistics from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) provide average data for the construction holiday: approximately 17 deaths, 78 serious injuries, and 1,358 minor injuries. The higher number in 2025 suggests an alarming spike above these averages.
Authorities like SQ and SAAQ emphasize the need to address risky behavior to reduce these fatalities, recommending measures such as avoiding distracted driving, obeying speed limits, and taking breaks to combat driver fatigue.
In a separate incident, a family has filed a lawsuit against the Montreal Police Service (SPVM), seeking $6.5 million. The lawsuit alleges that the family was injured during a police intervention that took place in Montreal. The details of the incident have made headlines as one of the top stories of the day.
The police intervention involved officers firing dozens of projectiles, leading to the injury of the family. It is important to note that this incident is unrelated to the road fatalities discussed earlier in this article.
This is the first time in a 25-year career that Miguel Bégin, director of the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) Eastern Border District, has encountered an entry of this magnitude. Three suspected smugglers and 44 migrants were intercepted overnight Saturday to Sunday near Stanstead, in the Eastern Townships. The exact circumstances leading to the police intervention are not yet clear.
In summary, the trend for 2025 shows a spike in road fatalities during Quebec’s construction holidays, largely caused by risky driving behaviors and driver fatigue, making it the deadliest such period in a decade. The increased number of fatalities has prompted warnings about the heightened dangers during this holiday period and confirmation that human error is the main contributing factor. Meanwhile, a separate incident involving the Montreal Police Service has made headlines, with a family filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries sustained during a police intervention.
- The alarming spike in road fatalities during Quebec's construction holidays, as seen in 2025, is not only a general news topic but also a significant concern within the realm of crime and justice, as it underscores the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater public awareness about the dangers of risky driving behaviors.
- Beyond the rise in road fatalities, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) is embroiled in a high-profile court case, as a family has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries sustained during a police intervention, raising questions about the use of force and accountability within the Politics and Law enforcement sector.
