The Return of Social Classes?

The exacerbation of inequalities seems to have given new impetus to analyses based on social classes. Are social classes regaining their relevance today as a grid for reading inequalities, as a source of collective identity and as a vector for political mobilization?

These are the questions that the fourth edition of the Observatoire québécois des inégalités’ annual event will attempt to answer. Drawing on empirical research, personal accounts and professional practices, it aims to shed light on the circumstances, mechanisms and processes influencing recent changes in social class in Canada and Quebec. The issues of socio-economic polarization, social downgrading, the future of the middle classes and possible solutions for a less unequal society will be the main themes of discussion.

This event is part of the “Classes moyennes” project, supported by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Register now to take part in this key event!

The annual meeting of the Observatoire québécois des inégalités will take place on the evening of March 25 and the day of March 26, 2025, at the Université du Québec en Outaouais.

PROGRAM

Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 

5:00 p.m. Registration

5:45 p.m. Opening Remarks

• Nathalie Guay, Executive Director, Observatoire québécois des inégalités
• Murielle Laberge, Rector of the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)

6:00 p.m. Keynote Discussion

• Chantal Maillé, Professor, Simone de Beauvoir Institute & Women’s Studies and Co-Director of the Réseau québécois en études féministes (RéQEF)
• Stéphane Moulin, Full Professor, Department of Sociology, Université de Montréal

Led by Mélissa Blais, Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Co-chair for the Chantier sur l’antiféminisme of the Réseau québécois en études féministes (RéQEF), Member of the Action Politique et Démocratie research collective

7:00 p.m. Discussion

7:30 p.m. End of the evening

Wednesday, March 26, 2025  

8:30 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Housekeeping

Master of Ceremonies: Julia Haurio, Director of Communications, Observatoire québécois des inégalités

9:05 a.m. Dialogue on the future of the middle classes

• Middle classes, what are they? – Roberson Édouard, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités
• The middle classes from a labor perspective – Stéphane Moulin, Full Professor, Department of Sociology, Université de Montréal
• The middle class and the climate crisis – Mélanie Busby, Head of the Broad Coalition on Energy, Front commun pour la transition énergétique

Led by Ariane Préfontaine, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités

9:45 a.m. Discussion period

10:10 a.m. the Great Canadian Class Study Michelle Maroto, Professor of Sociology at the University of Alberta

10:20 a.m. Discussion period

10:30 a.m. 15 minutes break

10:45 a.m. Downward and upward social mobility

• Evolution of the portrait of the middle classes – Geoffroy Boucher, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités
• Intergenerational income mobility – Marie Connolly, Professor, Department of Economics, École des sciences de la gestion (ESG), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• Overcoming obstacles in the fight against poverty
  • Micheline Ciarlo, Movement activist, ATD Quart monde
  • Francisco Quiazua, Head of the Political Committee of ATD Quart monde

Led by Christian Girard, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités

11:25 a.m. Workshop

11:40 a.m. Discussion period

12:00 p.m. LUNCH ON SITE

1:00 p.m. Socio-economic polarization

• Landlords and tenants: towards a class divide? – Louis Gaudreau, Professor, School of Social Work, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• Perspectives on the place of work and social class in the evolution of economic inequalities – Mathieu Perron-Dufour, Graduate Program Director and Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)
• Lived experience testimony
  • Vanessa L. Constantineau, Coordinator, Association pour la défense des droits sociaux ‒ Outaouais
  • François Pays, Executive Director, Table de concertation sur la faim et le développement social de l’Outaouais

Led by Sandy Torres, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités

1:45 p.m. Discussion period

2:15 p.m. 15 minutes break

2:30 p.m. Possible solutions for a less unequal world

• Ferdaous Roussafi, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités
• Stéphane Vigneault, Coordinator, École ensemble
• Karen Smith, Centre d’amitié autochtone de Maniwaki, point de service de Gatineau
• Jonathan Durand-Folco, Associate Professor, Élisabeth Bruyère School of Social Innovation, Université Saint-Paul
• Camille Lavictoire-Boulianne, Co-founder, Chez les Simone

Led by François Fournier, Researcher, Observatoire québécois des inégalités

3:30 p.m. Workshop

3:50 p.m. Discussion period

4:15 p.m. Key Takeaways

• Nathalie Guay, Executive Director, Observatoire québécois des inégalités
• Thomas Collombat, Professor and Director of the Social Sciences Department, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)

4:30 p.m. End of the event