“We understand that it’s difficult with the increase in demand … but we’re going to respect our budgets,” Quebec’s health minister says.
Eliminating the province’s anticipated $1.5-billion health-care deficit this year is “non-negotiable,” Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said Thursday.
“No, no, what I said was that we have to find all the necessary means to respect the commitment we made. We understand that it’s difficult with the increase in demand … but we’re going to respect our budgets,” he said.
“That’s non-negotiable, and has been from the start.”
On Thursday, opposition parties said they fear the impact cleaning up institutional spending at health-care establishments will have.
“The Coalition Avenir Québec’s record on health is a disaster. And what is the government announcing? Cuts,” Quebec Liberal Party MNA André Fortin said during question period.
Fortin deplored the reduction in working hours in CHSLDs and the suspension of job postings for nurses.
“How is cutting nursing positions going to help catch up on surgeries?” he asked.
Québec solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal pointed out that in the past week, “330 positions were abolished in Chaudière-Appalaches, 565 positions at the CISSS de Laval and 500 at the CISSS Montérégie-Est.”
“The positions that were set aside … were vacant,” Dubé responded. “We didn’t lay off any staff.”
Criticism also comes from unions
The union accused the Legault government of putting vulnerable regions such as Côte-Nord, Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue at risk.
“Nurses and orderlies are discovering that positions posted to join the public flying squads have disappeared from the government’s website,” said FSSS-CSN President Réjean Leclerc.
“By putting a stop to the growth of (these) teams, the CAQ is abandoning people living in the regions to their sad fate,” he added.
“We’re swimming in improvisation,” added Élisabeth Gagnon-Tremblay, president of the Syndicat des professionnelles en soins infirmiers et cardiorespiratoires du CHU Sainte-Justine-CSN.
“There are about 75 nurses working in the field. And many others waiting to do their part. What is the CAQ telling them? That they have to stop cultivating the desire to help people in the regions?”
Dubé was quick to respond to the unions on social media.
“Let’s be very clear: the flying squads are here to stay,” he wrote. “There is no hiring freeze for flying squads.”