Quebec spending on private health-care workers up by 335% in last 5 years amid labour shortage
The amount of money Quebec has spent on private health-care workers has quadrupled in the last five years as it continues to deal with a worker shortage made worse by the pandemic.
To help fill the gaps, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has been forced to hire workers from the private sector.
In 2017-2018, spending on private health-care workers was at just over $200 million, according to figures provided by the health ministry. Fast forward to the pandemic years, in 2020-21 there was a massive jump to more than $663,909,408 million dollars.
This year alone, spending has already reached more than $875 million.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 2017-2018: $201,022,961
- 2018-2019: $234,777,519
- 2019-2020: $349,205,763
- 2020-2021: $663,909,408
- 2021-2022: $875,129,373
The money pays for doctors, nurses, and other workers who are now in the private system.
Quebec's largest nurses union, the FIQ, said this is a total failure by the provincial government and comes at a huge cost to taxpayers.
Union president Julie Bouchard said Quebec should start making the public system more attractive to potential employees. To do that, there needs to be better working conditions.. and a reduction in workload.
For years, mandatory overtime has been a common side effect of the labour shortage.
Workers have long dealt with "fatigue" and "burnout," Bouchard said, so they often find work in the private sector, where working conditions are better and the pay is higher.
On Tuesday, Premier François Legault was asked about the province's tendency to turn to private health care to deliver services in Quebec. Speaking at an announcement about a new candidate in the fall election, the premier made it very clear that he wants Quebec to put an end to using private worker agencies to fill gaps in the health-care system.
"Our objective is to get rid of private agencies. I don't like private agencies, but in the meantime — because of the shortage — it's less worse to use those agencies," Legault said.
Legault admits because of the pandemic, some health-care workers left the public sector and it takes about three years to train new nurses, so he said the problem won't be solved tomorrow.
The numbers provided by the health ministry do not include the money spent on security guards for health facilities as the government outsources that job to private companies.
This year, Quebec has spent more than $300 million on security in its health facilities.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.