After months of negotiations, Quebec introduces special legislation today to strike new deal with doctors
The Legault government is pushing through special legislation to change the compensation model for family doctors and medical specialists.
Bill 2, “An Act to establish collective responsibility primarily in relation to improving access to medical services and ensuring the continuity of the provision of those services”, was introduced in the National Assembly on Friday morning.
The Prime Minister had made his intentions clear in the video address recorded on Wednesday.
François Legault Said Left with no other option due to the state of negotiations, he said, “We’re not doing this against doctors, we’re doing this for Quebecers.”
In May the government introduced Bill 106.
Its provisions included linking physicians’ salaries to performance indicators so that they could handle heavy patient loads. But doctors have repeatedly warned that they cannot meet performance targets without more resources.
Legault issued his threat via video after the province tabled its fourth proposal amid stalled negotiations and pressure tactics by doctors and medical experts who have been without a contract through 2023.
The federation of medical specialists issued a statement saying, “We were deceived. This was all written to potentially challenge their law.”
Legault’s plan to impose force through a special law has also been criticized by opposition parties.
Vincent Maricel, Quebec Solidaire’s health critic, said the government’s special legislation is tantamount to filibustering — a parliamentary procedure that limits the time devoted to debating a motion or bill and thus speeds up its adoption.
“The opposition is being silenced,” he said ahead of Friday’s special session. “I am being deprived of my voice in my regular parliamentary work.”
On Thursday, Mariscal said the move would “further worsen our already strained relationships with doctors” while providing no benefits to patients.
During these tense negotiations, associations representing medical specialists and family doctors resorted to pressure tactics, such as refraining from teaching medical students.
The federation representing family doctors announced this on Thursday end the boycottAt the request of Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez. It also took a dig at Legault, saying he should “fully fulfill his role as premier” and involve himself in negotiations rather than resorting to special legislation.
François Legault’s government plans to introduce a special law in the National Assembly on Friday to stop doctors’ pressure tactics and move forward with changes to the way they are compensated. In a video, Legault said he was doing this not against doctors but for Quebecers.
‘Declaration of war’
The province said its fourth and latest offering is aimed at addressing doctors’ concerns about a lack of resources needed to reach performance targets.
The proposal would have guaranteed that the rules linking physicians’ pay to performance would not be changed for the first two years after the law takes effect.
It would also set aside $50 million for 500 additional health professionals in family medicine groups starting in 2026 and $120 million over four years to improve the patient-physician matching system, which many experts say is failing.
Quebec pledges to address operating room shortageG.E.D. $400 million over four years, adding eight new ORs and strengthening management.
Sainte-Québec executives will also be subject to performance targets related to their pay.
So far, doctors do not see this proposal as a realistic option, with the head of that federation, Vincent Oliva, even describing it as a “declaration of war”.
