Quebec City, 28 October 2025 — While the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, is on a media tour explaining Bill 2 — mainly to establish collective responsibility with respect to improvement of access to medical services and to ensure continuity of provision of those services —, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ is reminding everyone that specialized nurse practitioners (SNP) play an essential role in frontline care and are not interchangeable resources.

In an interview, the minister indicated that SNPs could contribute to patient management. The FIQ believes that SNPs are not “substitutes for doctors”, but professionals in their own right who already actively participate in this patient management. “We are delighted that the Minister recognizes the importance of SNPs, but let’s be clear: they are not there to fill temporary gaps. Their expertise must be respected and their role fully recognized in the public network”, stated Julie Bouchard, President of the FIQ.

The FIQ believes that the effects of Bill 2 on doctors — a bill likely to  profoundly disrupt practices in the field — will have a direct impact on the SNPs’ work. The issues related to the SNPs need to be discussed, especially the workload and organization of work, the impact of legislative changes and optimizing the use of SNPs in the public network. “The FIQ has been asking Santé Québec for months to address these issues, but there has been no concrete progress to date. SNPs should not be caught in the tug-of-war between the government and doctors”, deplored Ms. Bouchard.

“SNPs bring unique expertise and play an essential role in frontline care.  These highly qualified professionals can diagnose, prescribe treatments and ensure follow up, while working collaboratively with other health professionals”, added the president of the FIQ.

Moreover, the Federation considers it contradictory that the Ministry of Health is lowering the targets for SNP positions while portraying these professionals as the solution to access to care. For example, in Montréal and the Montérégie, several SNP graduates in mental health will not have a position this year. The situation also affects SNPs in other practice settings. “This is unacceptable”, stated the head of the union. “SNP positions must be created, otherwise the entire public network and the health of Quebecers will suffer”, she concluded.

About the FIQ

Created in 1987, the FIQ represents nearly 90,000 healthcare professionals (nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists) working in the healthcare institutions across Québec. The FIQ is a feminist organization composed of nearly 90% women, dedicated to defending its members, while ensuring the quality of care offered to the public and the sustainability of the public health network.