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MONTREAL — Martin Thibert, mayor of a small Quebec town by the U.S. border, was almost finished painting the interior of his kids’ public school with the help of a group of volunteers when an inspector showed up.

The provincial construction inspector told the gathering of parents, grandparents and teachers that painting a school for free — and without the proper licence — is illegal in Quebec.

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She then demanded the names and IDs of all 10 people in the room.

“At first I refused but then she threatened to call the provincial police,” said Thibert, mayor of Saint-Sebastien. “My wife went home to get my ID because she didn’t want me getting arrested over painting a school.”

The March episode made headlines around the province and highlighted the tight hold of unions over Quebec’s complex bureaucracy, which politicians and economists say inflates the cost of construction projects and hinders civic engagement.