Bill 15: Quebec tables legislation to overhaul health system
The CAQ government has unveiled its long-promised plan to improve Quebec's public health network.
Tabled at the Quebec legislature Wednesday by Health Minister Christian Dubé, Bill 15 promises a major shakeup. He said he's confident health professionals will approve.
"They will be very proud to be part of the changes we're making," he said.
Bill 15, An act to make the health and social services system more effective, is a massive piece of legislation consisting of nearly 300 pages and more than 1,100 articles. It will modify more than 30 laws.
One major change is creating a new management organization, Santé Québec. The agency will handle the day-to-day operations in hospitals and health-care facilities. With Santé Québec in charge, the CIUSSS acronym will no longer apply.
Quebec also wants medical specialists to increase the number of patients they see.
The bill also allows for more mobility with staff, who will retain their seniority if they work in another region.
Improving work conditions and culture will go a long way, said Dubé.
"Once upon a time, there was a culture of the patients. There was a feeling of being part of a team in one hospital. This has been lost," he said. "The first thing that we need to do is get back nurses and personnel in the system."
Opposition parties are critical and unconvinced that Bill 15 will make a significant difference.
"We have a hard time understanding how these changes, which are mainly in the management of the network, will give people better services," said PQ health critic Joel Arseneau.
Liberal MNA Andre Fortin said the focus is in the wrong areas.
"There seems to be a focus on the structure of the health-care network instead of focus on patient care, on attracting people to the health-care network, on making sure we have the proper resources to treat Quebecers when they need care," he said.
Bill 15 has only been tabled and will be debated and possibly modified in the coming months.
Given its size, it's still unclear when the bill will be passed into law.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money trial of former U.S. president Donald Trump, prepared to testify about a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.