Quebec Premier Willing to Consider Restrictions on Social Media Usage During CAQ Discussion on Age Limits

Quebec Premier François Legault says he’s willing to “implement significant measures” to limit children’s use of social media, following pressure from younger members of his party.

Approximately 700 members of the Coalition Avenir Québec are meeting in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., this weekend for a general convention, where one of the proposals being discussed is a call from the party’s youth wing to prohibit social media access for individuals under 16.

During a discussion with journalists on Saturday, Premier Legault characterized social media platforms as “virtual dealers” and drew parallels to addictive substances.

However, the premier’s comments suggest a shift in direction.

Earlier this month, he dismissed Party Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s idea to follow in the footsteps of France and Florida, both of which have outlawed individuals under 14 from creating social media accounts.

Additionally, on May 23, the Premier Legault government declined to debate a PQ motion specifically addressing the issue.

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“It concerns me,” Premier Legault stated on May 25. “It’s causing significant mental health issues for young people. Social media operates by creating dependency in its users. … I am willing to implement major measures.”

Elsewhere at the convention, various unions staged a protest outside the gathering location to criticize the government’s handling of labor negotiations with the province’s workers.

Among them were members of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), representing 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists, and clinical perfusionists.

FIQ members have been on strike since November due to stalled negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement and rejected the government’s latest contract proposal in April. The demonstrators on Saturday urged Premier Legault’s government to resume negotiations and present a proposal that enhances working conditions and raises wages.

The rejected offer, endorsed by union leadership, included general salary increases of at least 17.4 percent over five years, new bonuses for evening, night, and weekend shifts, increased flexibility for workers to manage their schedules, as well as changes to vacation accrual and seniority recognition, among other provisions.