The FIQ denounces passing Bill 15 under a gag order
The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ firmly denounces the fact that the François Legault government has decided to use a gag order to pass Bill 15, which will upend the public health network.
“Quite frankly, it is completely unjustified and anti-democratic to pass such an important and voluminous bill in a rush when there is no good reason to cut discussions short. This government likes talking about ‘political courage’ but this is political recklessness,” declared Françoise Ramel, Vice-President of the FIQ.
The FIQ believes Bill 15 will have a very negative impact on healthcare professionals, in particular by creating a single employer and by taking the decision-making far from care settings, leading to management that is remote and detached from the daily reality.
“How can the government launch a centralizing reform of this scope in the health network and refuse to answer questions about the increased centralization, the insufficient accountability mechanisms, and the unprecedented openness to the privatization of care and services? We believe that passing this bill will be catastrophic for the health and social services network and the majority of women who work there,” added Françoise Ramel.
The FIQ would also like to highlight that this ultra-centralizing reform will not resolve the fundamental labour attraction and retention problems nor access to health care. These things should have been the government’s priority. Instead, it appears to be paving the way for the degradation of work and practice conditions and for privatization.