Quebec Doctors Break Deadlock, New Contract Signed

0:00It's April 25th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Canada News Today, your AI-powered local news. Quebec's medical specialist just broke through a year-long deadlock with the provincial government on a new contract. On Thursday evening, the Federation of Medical Specialists voted over 80% in favor of the deal, marking a huge win after stalled. Negotiations. Earlier this year, talks hit a wall under former health minister, Christian Dubey, whose bills tied Dr. Peta performance and sparked massive, backlash from physicians. That controversy even led to his resignation, but things shifted fast when Sonya Belanger stepped in as the new health minister. Doctors like FMSQ board member Dr. Arsene Basmagion say the previous setup felt like constant roadblocks, with bills that came out of nowhere and treated physicians like they were under a police state. The mood flipped with Belanger and Treasury Chair France, elamed her and so at the table, turning deadlock chats into real progress.

1:02The agreement swaps pay cuts for increases tied to hitting targets, like boosting specialist appointment slots, slashing surgery wait lists from 4,000 to under 1,000 in two years, and cutting priority cancer surgery backlogs from 325 to fewer than 50. After all, health spending jumps at least 9% by March 31st, 2028, possibly up to 11% of goals are met, with chunks for rural doctor retention, clinic costs, and closing pay gaps between specialties. It's a solid step forward for both sides, though doctors settled for less than the 17% raises other health workers got, leaving Quebec. Physicians earning below neighbors like those in Ontario, still, this deal sets the stage for better care without the endless fights.