Claim Deadlines at the CNESST in Quebec
Quebec has a two-step appeal process with two different deadlines. One of the two numbers published everywhere is out of date.
It's sixty days to go to the Tribunal, not forty-five. The deadline to challenge a decision of the administrative review before the Administrative Labour Tribunal has been extended from forty-five to sixty days.
Many law firm websites and guides still indicate forty-five. This is the least risky error, as acting early costs nothing. But if you were told that you were out of time on the fiftieth day, check again.
AT A GLANCE
| You have | To do this | Starting from |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | Request administrative review of a decision | The notification of the decision |
| 60 days | Challenge the review decision at the Administrative Labour Tribunal | The receipt of the review decision |
| 90 days | After this period without a response, you can still refer the matter to the Tribunal | Your review request or observations |
| 6 months | File your Worker's Claim with the CNESST | Generally, the event |
Deadlines are only half the story. Knowing the deadlines doesn't tell you that your job is reserved for you for one or two years depending on the size of your employer, that a notice from the Bureau of Medical Assessment binds the CNESST on your diagnosis and limitations, or that moving from review to the Tribunal first requires a withdrawal.
Recovering from a work injury in Quebec covers the entire process and is free to read. Injured in another province? Start with the guides by province and territory.
What if the CNESST simply doesn't respond?
After ninety days, you can bypass them. If you have requested an administrative review and the CNESST has not responded within ninety days of your request, your observations, or the submission of your documents, you can appeal directly to the Administrative Labour Tribunal.
This is a real remedy against silence, and almost no one uses it. Note the filing date and any subsequent mailing date, as the ninety days run from the later of the two.
Can the CNESST reclaim money already paid?
Generally no, and this fear prevents many people from appealing. When a benefit is cancelled or reduced, whether by review or by the Tribunal, benefits already provided cannot be recovered.
Exceptions are narrow. Benefits obtained in bad faith and salary paid as compensation under Article 60. Otherwise, money received in good faith remains yours.
This also works the other way. When compensation initially refused is finally granted to you, or increased, the CNESST pays interest from the date of your claim.
How the two stages work
The review is decided on file. The Administrative Review Directorate renders its decision without a hearing, after giving the parties the opportunity to submit their observations. The request must be made in writing and briefly state your reasons.
The Tribunal holds a hearing. It is independent of the CNESST, sends the complete file to the parties, and summons you. Its decision is final.
Some decisions skip the review stage. Those rendered jointly by the CNESST and the SAAQ or IVAC go directly to the Tribunal. For others, including decisions rendered following a notice from the Bureau of Medical Assessment, you have the choice between the two routes.
Two practical actions that matter
Keep the envelope. If the date printed on the decision precedes the date you received it by more than about five days, this envelope proves the actual notification date. Your deadline runs from the notification date.
Make sure you get an acknowledgment of receipt. The CNESST normally sends one after a review request, with a copy of your file. If nothing arrives, follow up. This copy of the file is also what you need to make your case.
If you missed a deadline, it is still possible in certain circumstances to be relieved of your default, by administrative review or by the Tribunal. This is not automatic and a reason will be required, so ask rather than considering the matter closed.
Injured in a vehicle while at work?
Decisions rendered jointly by the CNESST and the SAAQ go directly to the Tribunal, without administrative review. The road component has its own deadlines: three years to claim and sixty days for each decision. Our SAAQ deadlines page explains them.
Last checked: July 2026
Checked with: the Administrative Labour Tribunal on challenging a CNESST decision, the CNESST policy on review requests and access to worker files, and the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases.
Deadlines change. If you find outdated information on this page, please write to Recovery@hurtsquare.ca and we will correct it publicly.
Keeping the record on which these deadlines depend
Each deadline on this page runs from the notification date, not the date printed on the letter. One of them starts from something you sent, not from what you received.
Two things determine the outcome of a claim: what you have recorded and whether you did the right thing at the right time where you live. The National Workplace Injury Recovery Guide covers the first part: the daily record of symptoms, appointments, calls, and expenses on which a claim is ultimately judged. The second part, the deadlines on this page, as well as the forms, organizations, and appeal routes that underpin them, is covered by the CNESST Companion Guide: Workplace Injury in Quebec. People who only have one of the two often end up with a meticulous record for the wrong process, or with the right dates and nothing to present.
Your recovery. Documented. Protected.
See the Quebec Workplace Injury Companion Guide
This page contains general information for people in Quebec. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules vary by province and change over time. Verify any information specific to your situation with a representative, the CNESST, or the Administrative Labour Tribunal.