Inaccurate data driving the transformation process
In a recent revelation, the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) has exposed a miscommunication and flawed reporting by Statistics Canada that led to the publication of inaccurate data regarding labor disputes in Quebec.
The faulty data, which claimed there were 759 strikes in Quebec in 2024, was widely circulated and used by employer organizations, particularly the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), to fuel an anti-union campaign urging the Quebec government to restrict the right to strike. The data was also cited by Labour Minister Jean Boulet, despite his own department having access to the accurate data.
The CSN, after questioning Statistics Canada, found that the actual number of labor disputes in Quebec was only 208 in 2024, a figure that is only slightly above the annual average and not a record year for strikes. Statistics Canada subsequently removed the incorrect figures, admitted that their numbers were unreliable, and suggested that the Quebec Ministry of Labour’s data should be used instead.
The MEI, in response, has added a note to the preamble of its analysis, acknowledging a methodological dispute over the data. The institute continues to consider Statistics Canada a reference organization for research institutions across the country.
The Quebec Labour Minister, Jean Boulet, acknowledged a methodological difference between the data disseminated by his ministry and Statistics Canada. However, he argues that the difference does not make the conclusions incompatible.
François Enault, the first vice-president of the CSN, accused Jean Boulet's team of lack of rigor for using the IEDM's inaccurate figures. He further accused the minister of using these erroneous data as a political will to influence the debate on labor disputes.
This incident raises questions about the importance of accurate data and the potential misuse of such data in political and business discourse. It serves as a reminder for institutions to ensure the integrity of their data and for consumers to critically evaluate the information they receive.
Meanwhile, in other news, Donald Trump, the American president, is facing controversy over his refusal to disclose documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has also promised the return of cane sugar in American Coca-Cola.
[1] Le Devoir, "Les chiffres de grève dans le Québec ont été grossis par erreur, avoue Statistique Canada", 2025. [2] CBC News, "CSN challenges Quebec labour minister's data on labour disputes", 2025.
The Quebec Labor Minister, Jean Boulet, was accused by François Enault, the first vice-president of the CSN, of using incorrect data on labor disputes for political purposes, suggesting a misuse of statistics in policy-and-legislation discussions related to French politics. The faulty data, initially reported by Statistics Canada, was later found to be inaccurate, with only 208 labor disputes happening in Quebec in 2024, rather than the initially reported 759. This incident underscores the importance of accuracy in general-news reporting and the potential consequences when such information is misused.
