The provincial government is calling for an end to black-market baths in seniors' residences.
Some elderly long-term care patients have made deals to get extra baths, with employees being paid under the table.
"Some members, not all personnel, sometimes do offer their services to a user," said Health Minister Gaetan Barrette.
"That being undeclared it is totally illegal."
It's been going on in some long-term care facilities in the Laurentians and in other regions the health minister won't name.
The Coalition Avenir Quebec says it's a scandal for the 150,000 people who live in Quebec's long-term care facilities.
"The government has known for at least three years, and it's done nothing," said CAQ health critic Francois Paradis.
The CAQ provided a letter dated 2011 from the orderlies' union to then Liberal health minister Yves Bolduc showing the government was aware.
Barrette says he can't comment on the past but says he can reassure the public that hygiene is not at risk in seniors' homes
"It's about personal hygiene and the personnel in our network is trained in order to do that and they do that," said Barrette.
In some cases outside workers come in to bathe clients.
Other times people are bathed by employees paid on the side.
"Not only is it illegal to do that the way they're doing it but the way they're doing it is also totally immoral," said Barrette.
The health minister has ordered health boards to put a stop to black market in long-term care facilities and he says elderly residents can get extra baths for free.
They just need a medical evaluation to approve it.
