Quebec City, 18 March 2026 — As Québec’s Minister of Finance tables the 2026-2027 budget, which he describes as “austere, focused and responsible”, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ is concerned about the lack of structural investment to address the ongoing difficulties facing the public network.

For the Federation, a real change of direction is needed in frontline services. Investments should enable the implementation of a coherent, seamless and accessible policy capable of reducing pressure on emergency rooms, improving care for the public and ensuring genuine access to healthcare. Healthcare professionals play a key role in this change, and the FIQ deplores that the budget does not fully recognize their contribution, still relying primarily on the pharmacists and doctors.

“It’s not enough to meet the needs. We would have liked to see concrete measures involving specialized nurse practitioners (SNPs) to prevent emergency rooms from becoming overwhelmed. Funding has been announced to support healthcare provision, but we still have to wait: there is nothing concrete as yet,” emphasized Julie Bouchard, president of the FIQ. The Federation does, however, acknowledge the effort to cover rising expenditure, a request it had made during the pre-budget consultations. The planned 4.1% increase will keep the network afloat, even though the effects of past cuts remain very much in evidence.

The FIQ also welcomes the announced investments in home care support and the funding finally allocated to prevention measures, an element that was missing when the policy was first unveiled. However, it regrets the lack of measures to mitigate the impacts of an ageing population and rising care needs, which continue to fall solely on healthcare professionals. “Once again, we’re the ones left to pick up the pieces when things go wrong. The workload never stops, and there’s nothing in this budget to ease the pressure. The solution, as we’ve said before, is safe ratios: a reasonable number of patients per team to ensure everyone’s safety”, insisted Ms. Bouchard.

The Federation also considers it appropriate that the budget includes measures for informal care givers and an increase in funding for Santé Québec. It also notes the announcement of $167 billion over ten years for infrastructure, notably for the construction, refurbishment and expansion of hospitals, the creation of seniors’ homes, the replacement of medical equipment and the continued digital transformation of public bodies.

However, the FIQ is concerned about the lack of resources to curb privatization, whilst previous budgets have confirmed a clear trend: the role of the private sector continues to expand, particularly with specialist medical clinics becoming the preferred solution for reducing surgical wait lists, at the cost of staff leaving for the private sector. “We won’t solve our problems with more private contracts. The private sector is expensive, fragments healthcare and draws staff away from the public system. That’s the reality in the field”, continued Ms. Bouchard.

The FIQ repeats that healthcare professionals want a functional public network, adequately funded and tailored to regional contexts. “We are concerned with the way the government organizes care and patient management. What we are asking is to be able to provide care in humane, safe, and realistic conditions. Today’s budget doesn’t give us that”, concluded the union leader.

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.