Strike of Quebec lawyers, notaries leaves provincial lawmakers in the lurch

Lawyers and notaries who work for the Quebec government began a general strike today, grinding the drafting of provincial bills to a halt.

The 1,100 members ofthe union Les avocats et notaires de l'tat qubcois(LANEQ) have been without a collective agreement for a year and half.

Franois Desroches-Lapointe, who ison the union's executive board, thinksthe province will try to resolve the dispute quickly. Bills must be written before the National Assembly'sNov. 4deadline or they can't be passed this legislative session.

"Of course there is a strategic decision behind the timing,"Desroches-Lapointe said.

The union says the strike leaves lawmakers paralyzed at a time when dozens of measures are waiting to be pushed ahead such as the provincial rules on dangerous dogs, promised since the summer.

"The government has many law projects it wants to present in this session.If they're not ready, they're going to have to wait.It could freeze the National Assembly's work,"Desroches-Lapointesaid.

Crown prosecutors are not among those going on strike.

Ready for long-term strike

During the strike, legal advice and representation for the province will be suspended.

Desroches-Lapointe says the union wants to change the way it negotiates with the province.

It wants an independent third-partycommittee appointed by both parties to decide on disagreements.

"As we are the government's lawyers and notaries, we don't want to be in conflict with the government every three years, when we have to negotiate our work condition," Desroches-Lapointe said.

Union members marched and held rallies Monday at courthousesacross the province.

Desroches-Lapointe says the union is ready for a long-term strike, if necessary.

• Quebec government lawyers and notaries vote to strike