Healthcare. Our priority. Our voice.
The October 5th election is approaching, and there will be several health and social services debates. To fuel your reflection, we are presenting the priority issues and our stances.
This will better equip you to analyze the election promises and cast an informed vote.
Why is the FIQ intervening in the election period?
Even though the FIQ is subject to the Electoral Act and remains neutral to parties, it plays an essential role:
- Defending issues that directly impact healthcare professionals.
- Explaining the impact of political choices on the health network and your working conditions.
- Providing the information needed to understand the electoral commitments that influence your daily reality.
Sensitive to concerns voiced in the field, the FIQ is interested in both healthcare issues and social matters that affect women in particular: democracy, right to work, housing, immigration, education, etc.
The 4 main issues to watch for during the campaign
Front-line care and patient care management
The issue of patients without a primary care provider will be central to the campaign. For the FIQ, improving the front line requires:
- Fully deploying the role of all healthcare professionals
Teams must use their full skill set in their work, without useless limitations.
- Deploying front-line specialized nurse practitioners
They are essential to improving access, reducing wait times and ensuring care continuity.
- Strengthening CLSCs
The FIQ defends a strong, public and integrated front line: physical health + mental health + social services, under one roof.
What to watch out for in party promises:
- The vision of the role of nurses and specialized nurse practitioners (SNP)
- Plans to reduce the number of patients without a primary care provider
- The role given to CLSCs and the proximity public network
The private sector in health care
Every election restarts the debate on the increased role of the private sector in health care. The FIQ is sending out a warning about the consequences of further opening the door to the private sector and is asking to:
- Maintain resources in the public network
Transferring human and financial resources to the private sector directly undermines the public network.
- Reduce pressure on healthcare professionals
The exodus to the private sector generates a work overload for those who stay in the public network.
- Limit the expansion of private specialized clinics
As with the case of using independent labour, the FIQ is opposed to this due to the negative effects on the organization of care and equitable access.
What to watch out for in party promises:
- Expansion or not of private services
- Public-private partnerships
- Commitments to reducing the privatization of health care
Safe ratios and work overload
Work overload remains the top issue in healthcare institutions. The FIQ has been fighting for years to implement safe healthcare professional-to-patient ratios.
It insists on:
- Staff attraction and retention
Ratios make it possible to ensure there is a sufficient number of healthcare professionals and to improve care quality.
- True ratio deployment
The FIQ continues to document practice conditions and to question parties.
What to watch out for in party promises:
- Clear commitments to ratios
- Serious measures to tackle the overload
- Actions to recruit and retain healthcare professionals
To find out more about ratios: fiqsante.qc.ca/ratios
Governance under Santé Québec
The creation of Santé Québec is fundamentally changing the management of the health network. Several parties had expressed concerns when it was adopted, especially with the risk of weakening the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
The FIQ is calling for:
- Truly decentralized management
Decisions must be made near the field, to fit regional realities.
- Recognition of the role unions play in institutions
Representatives have to be able to intervene with local managers.
- Improved working conditions
A new structure won’t be enough: concrete measures are needed to support healthcare professionals.
What to watch out for in party promises:
- Their intention to change or maintain Santé Québec
- Commitments to decentralization
- The role of unions under the new governance
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does the FIQ talk about elections?
Because political decisions directly influence the organization of the network, your working conditions and care quality. During the election period, the parties present their platform promises: the FIQ analyzes their proposals and highlights the priority issues for healthcare professionals.
Does the FIQ support a political party?
No. The FIQ is subject to the Electoral Act and is neutral. It doesn’t back any party but informs its members of political choices that affect their work and the population’s health.
What are the priority issues for this campaign?
There are four major issues of concern:
- Front-line care and patient care management
- The private sector in health care
- Safe ratios and work overload
- Governance under Santé Québec
Why is the front line an important issue?
Because it is the point of entry into the network and a high number of patients do not have access to a follow-up. The role of nurses, specialized nurse practitioners, and all healthcare professionals is central to improving access and care continuity.
Why is the FIQ concerned about privatization?
Expansion of the private sector can lead to:
- Staff transfers to private structures
- Weakening of the public network
- Increased workload in public institutions
That is why the FIQ advocates for a strong, public network that is accessible to everyone.
What is the progress update on safe ratios?
At the last round of negotiations, the government agreed to set up an action plan that could lead to the gradual roll out of ratios. The work overload is still high and the FIQ continues to document needs and to demand full implementation.
For more information visit: fiqsante.qc.ca/ratios
What does Santé Québec change for healthcare professionals?
The new structure moves powers from the MSSS to Santé Québec.
The FIQ is calling for:
- Decentralized management
- Consideration and integration of regional realities
- Respect for the role of unions in institutions
- Concrete improvements to working conditions
How should these issues influence my vote?
When you understand the parties’ positions on these four issues, you can assess:
- Their vision of the public network
- Their commitments to your profession
- Their desire to improve practice conditions and access to care
