It's a great day for the Union of Quebec Writers and Writers (UNEQ), which sees the artist status of its members being consolidated and placed on the same "equal footing as artists from other disciplines" thanks to Law 35 adopted Friday in the National Assembly.

"It's a new era that is opening, a new era that is beginning for Quebec authors," said UNEQ president Suzanne Aubry.

The Act to modernize and harmonize the rules relating to the professional status of artists, tabled on April 27 by the Minister of Culture and Communications, Nathalie Roy, was passed unanimously.

In particular, Bill 35 will allow authors to enjoy stronger union representation, which will allow them to "negotiate collective agreements setting the minimum working conditions for literary artists, and will also offer the possibility of real recourse in the event of litigation or abuse of power".

“The old law was not binding, so the publishers were obliged to sit down with us”, explained to the QMI Agency the director general of the UNEQ, Laurent Dubois.

"Before today, they had no protection," added Mr. Dubois, speaking of writers.

Bill 35 makes it possible to merge and reform the Act respecting the professional status and conditions of employment of performing, recording and film artists with the Act respecting the status of artists in the visual arts, fine crafts and literature and their contracts with distributors.

As a result, a single law will now apply to artists in the visual arts, film, recording, literature, crafts and the stage.

"Quebec can now be proud of having a new balanced law, which allows Quebec artists to have access to better working conditions and to practice their art in a healthy and safe environment, and more broadly, to contribute to the full development of the entire cultural community in Quebec," said Minister Nathalie Roy.

The various groups involved in the bill were quick to salute each other for their concerted efforts.