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Quebec Employers Council Appoints First Lawyer as President
MONTREAL, April 29, 2025 - The Quebec Employers Council (CPQ) has named Marie-Claude Perreault as its new president, marking the first time a lawyer has held the position. Perreault’s appointment is seen as a pivotal moment for the influential organization.
A career Dedicated to Labor Law
Perreault, a member of the bar since 1990, brings 35 years of experience in labor law to the CPQ. Her expertise lies exclusively within the employers’ sector, specializing in labor relations and workplace health and safety.
Throughout her career, Perreault has held strategic positions, including partner at Lavery, vice president of corporate and legal affairs for GDI, and head of her own firm, Mc Perreault Avocate Conseil Inc. She initially joined the CPQ in 2022.
Vision and Priorities
In an interview, Perreault discussed her vision for the CPQ and her priorities in her new role.
Asked what attracted her to the CPQ, Perreault saeid it was “quite simply a logical suite of my career with employers. The CPQ is the organization that represents them and carries them with all the decision-making bodies, to the provincial and the federal. It also regularly engages with the presidencies of union centers.”
She added, “Consequently, everything I have done for 35 years in terms of labor law, labor and health and safety relationships led me there and serves me today.”
CPQ’s Role and Impact
Perreault outlined the CPQ’s role, stating, “We have a seat within the CNESST, IRSST, CCTM, and also in strategic committees. We also represent the CPQ with government levels, act as messengers of employers in public opinion, and participate in certain disputes before the Supreme Court.”
She believes her legal background will be an asset. ”Yes, as my experience in labor law is very pragmatic. So I no that I can make a concrete difference, by dialoguing with the other parties and by finding winning solutions for all,” Perreault said.
She continued, “In my new position, I can influence, negotiate, convince, affirm, have a loud voice. Its a bit like I continued what I was doing before, but at a higher level.”
A Passion Rooted in Family
Perreault’s passion for labor law stems from her upbringing. “I have always known that it would be my branch, as I grew up in a family that was closely connected,” she explained. “My two parents managed working relationships for the employers’ side, so from the age of seven, I already knew how to cross a picket line and how an audience went. This specialty is therefore really part of my DNA.”
Addressing Key Challenges
Perreault identified productivity as a top priority. “Productivity is the number one priority in our economic platform,” she stated.She cited factors such as the aging population, lack of investment in innovation, and social dialog with union centers as contributing to the issue. “In short, it’s a big project, but it is indeed essential,” she said.
Regarding tense trade relations with the United States, Perreault said the CPQ is actively supporting employers. “We are part of the restricted committees mounted by the provincial and federal ministries of the economy to understand the challenges and needs of employers, as well as to inform us in priority of the actions of the government,” she said.
The CPQ is advocating for programs and financing to enhance international competitiveness and reduce dependence on the U.S. economy. They are also seeking tax and regulatory reductions to enable employers to diversify and reposition themselves.
A Mission for Evolution
In closing, Perreault shared her personal mission: ”I believe that our companies no longer have the choice today to diversify and reinvent themselves. We cannot therefore sit on a status quo, especially in terms of labor relations.”
“It is among others my mission to make them evolve, to ensure that employers are perceived as partners, and not as adversaries. This is a big challenge, of course, but it stimulates me a lot!” she concluded.
Quebec Employers Council Appoints First Lawyer as President: Q&A
Who is Marie-Claude Perreault and what is her new role?
Marie-Claude Perreault is the newly appointed president of the Quebec Employers Council (CPQ). This appointment is significant because she is the first lawyer to hold this position within the institution.
What is the Quebec Employers Council (CPQ)?
The CPQ (Quebec Employers Council) is an influential organization representing employers in Quebec. It plays a crucial role in advocating for employers’ interests and participating in discussions with various levels of government.
What is Marie-Claude Perreault’s professional background?
Marie-Claude Perreault has a long and distinguished career in labor law. She has been a member of the bar since 1990, bringing with her 35 years of experience. Her expertise lies exclusively within the employers’ sector,specializing in labor relations and workplace health and safety. She has held strategic positions throughout her career and joined the CPQ in 2022.
Where has Marie-Claude Perreault worked before the CPQ?
Before becoming president of the CPQ, Perreault held the following positions throughout her career:
Partner at Lavery
Vice President of Corporate and Legal Affairs for GDI.
Head of her own firm, Mc Perreault Avocate Conseil Inc.
What attracted Marie-Claude Perreault to the CPQ?
Perreault stated that her move to the CPQ was a “logical suite” to her career, as the CPQ represents employers and advocates for their interests. Her 35 years of experience in labor law, labor and health, and safety relationships led her to the CPQ.
What is the CPQ’s role and impact, according to Perreault?
Perreault outlined the CPQ’s role as follows:
Holds a seat within key organizations like CNESST, IRSST, and CCTM, as well as strategic committees.
Represents the CPQ with government levels.
Acts as a voice for employers in public opinion.
Participates in certain disputes before the Supreme Court.
How does Marie-Claude Perreault’s legal background benefit the CPQ?
Perreault believes her legal background is an asset because her experience in labor law is vrey pragmatic.She is confident in her ability to make a concrete difference through open dialog, by finding solutions for all parties involved. She sees her new position as an opportunity to influence, negotiate, and have a significant voice.
What are Marie-Claude Perreault’s main priorities as president of the CPQ?
Perreault has identified productivity as a top priority. She cited factors like the aging population, lack of innovation investment, and social dialogue with union centers as challenges influencing the productivity issue. Additionally, supporting employers regarding tense trade relations with the United States is another priority.
What challenges does the CPQ face regarding trade relations?
The CPQ is actively supporting employers who are facing challenges due to tense trade relations with the United States. The CPQ is involved in restricted committees with provincial and federal ministries of the economy to understand their needs. They are advocating for programs,financing,and reducing taxes and regulatory burdens to improve international competitiveness and reduce dependence on the U.S. economy.
Can you summarize the CPQ’s goals?
Here’s a summary of the CPQ’s primary goals:
Enhancing international competitiveness.
reducing dependence on the U.S. economy.
Seeking tax and regulatory reductions.
What is Marie-Claude Perreault’s personal mission in her new role?
Perreault’s personal mission is to help companies diversify and reinvent themselves, especially in the area of labor relations. She aims to ensure that employers are perceived as partners, not adversaries.
How has her family influenced her passion for labor law?
Perreault’s passion for labor law comes from her upbringing. Her parents managed working relationships for the employers’ side.From the age of seven, she was familiar with picket lines and the dynamics of an audience. This specialty is ”really part of my DNA.”