The Legault government is forcing through special legislation to change the compensation model for family doctors and medical specialists.
Bill 2, an “Act mainly to establish collective responsibility with respect to improvement of access to medical services and to ensure continuity of provision of those services” was tabled at the National Assembly Friday morning.
The premier had made his intentions clear in a recorded video address on Wednesday.
François Legault said the state of negotiations had left him with no other choice, saying “we are not doing this against doctors, we are doing this for Quebecers.”
In May, the government tabled Bill 106.
Its provisions included linking physicians’ pay to performance indicators to get them to take on heavier patient loads. But doctors have repeatedly warned they cannot meet performance targets without more resources.
Legault issued his threat via video after the province tabled its fourth offer amid stalled negotiations and pressure tactics by doctors and medical specialists who have been without a contract since 2023.
The medical specialists’ federation released a statement saying, “We were taken for a ride. It was all scripted for a possible challenge to his law.”
Legault’s plan to force through a special law has also been criticized by opposition parties.
Québec Solidaire health critic Vincent Marissal said the government’s special law amounts to invoking closure — a parliamentary procedure that limits the time devoted to debating a motion or bill and thereby fast-tracks its adoption.
“The opposition is being gagged,” he said, ahead of Friday’s special session. “I am being deprived of my voice in my regular parliamentary work.”
On Thursday, Marissal said the move would “further poison our already rotten relationships with doctors,” while not providing any benefits to patients.
During these tense negotiations, the federations representing medical specialists and family doctors both resorted to pressure tactics, such as refraining from teaching medical students.
On Thursday, the federation representing family doctors announced it would end its boycott, at the pleading of Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez. It also took a jab at Legault, saying he should ”fully play his role as premier” and involve himself more in negotiations instead of resorting to special legislation.
François Legault’s government is planning to table a special legislation Friday at the National Assembly to stop doctors’ pressure tactics and move forward with changes to the way they’re compensated. In a video, Legault said he’s not doing this against doctors but for Quebecers.
‘Declaration of war’
The province said its fourth and latest offer aims to address doctors’ concerns about the lack of resources needed to reach the performance targets.
The proposal would have guaranteed that regulations linking physicians’ pay to performance would not be changed for the first two years after the law takes effect.
It would 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 specialists say is failing.
To address operating room shortages, Quebec pledged $400 million over four years, adding eight new ORs and strengthening management.
Santé Québec executives would also be subject to performance targets tied to their pay.
So far, the doctors have not seen the offer as a realistic option, with the head of that federation, Vincent Oliva, even describing it as a “declaration of war.”
