Coalition Avenir Quebec promises new health agency as election nears
The Coalition Avenir Québec is promising to create a new health agency "to coordinate the operations of the system" and make the network "more efficient and more humane."
Minister of Health and Social Services Christian Dubé announced the election commitment Wednesday morning in Quebec City.
"We have all seen the failures of our health-care system during the pandemic. Everyone agrees that we need to change the way things work in health and social services," said Dubé.
The new agency, Santé Québec, will have the mandate to coordinate the operations of the health system, while the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) will focus on its role in planning, guiding, measuring performance and budgeting the network.
To illustrate how this new agency could allow for the decentralization and "de-bureaucratization" of the system, Dubé gave the example of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
"The MSSS, in collaboration with public health and the Comité d'immunisation du Québec (CIQ), provided clinical guidance for the vaccination. Within the network, a separate team was responsible and accountable for operations. This contributed to the success of the patient experience of Quebecers during their vaccination against COVID-19," he said.
He made it clear that "the idea is not to embark on a major structural reform that will disrupt everything on the ground."
Dubé indicated that the creation of this new agency was inspired by the health and social services renewed governance report, which was unveiled last June by Deputy Minister of Health Dominique Savoie.
Savoie, who had been mandated by the government to conduct a diagnostic of the health network, proposed the creation of a "neutral, fully accountable, highly operational entity, focused on results and user satisfaction."
According to the minister, the new agency will allow the CEOs of the CIUSSS and CISSS to have "the legitimacy to act according to the realities specific to each region and institution."
Allowing the CEOs of the various regions to have more autonomy is also an element of Savoie's report.
"If Quebecers put their trust in us on October 3, we will table a bill as soon as parliament resumes. This will allow us to hear from everyone and adjust as needed," said the health minister.
During the news conference, Dubé was accompanied by Lionel Carmant, Minister of Health and Social Services, Shirley Dorismond, MNA for Marie-Victorin, Marilyne Picard, MNA for Soulanges, and candidates for the next elections Sonia Bélanger and Samuel Gatien.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 17, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.