Québec City, le 10 February 2026 — The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ believes that the professional system reform should immediately pivot to promote greater independence for healthcare professionals to improve public access to care. As the FIQ sees it, Bill 15 presents a rare occasion to sustainably change the organization of care in Quebec. It therefore encourages the legislator and concerned bodies to adopt a broader, faster and more inclusive approach to fully recognize healthcare professionals’ skills and meet the population’s growing needs.

It is with this in mind that the FIQ presents its brief to the Committee on Health and Social Services regarding this bill, which aims to modernize the professional system in health and social services by streamlining regulatory processes and expanding certain professional practices. “Several planned advances depend on regulations still to come. If we aren’t more ambitious and consistent now, then this could seriously limit its scope,” warned Julie Bouchard
FIQ President.

The Federation also laments the fact that several essential professions are completely absent from the bill, namely licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists who play a crucial role in the continuity of care and their potential remains largely under utilized.

“Enabling these professionals to fully use their skills in all settings, to take on new responsibilities when relevant, and to officially evolve their practice is key to improving network efficiency, reducing wait times and reinforcing the front line. It is also urgent to regulate the practice of clinical perfusionists. It’s a rare profession and the shortage of these professionals is already seriously impacting patients,” said the union leader.

The FIQ believes it is necessary to modernize the professional orders’ regulatory processes faster, especially those related to advancing the practice, while also properly consulting the organizations that represent the professionals concerned. It stated that a fast-tracked approval mechanism is crucial to preventing delays to implementing the solutions awaited in care settings.

“Bill 15 is going in the right direction, but let’s not waste this opportunity. Healthcare professionals are ready and trained to do more now. The government should seize this opportunity to quickly improve care access. It will need to truly broaden the scope of practice for all professionals, not for just a few targeted groups,” said Julie Bouchard.

“Every day our members see the effects of the current limits: delayed care, exhausted teams, patients that have to navigate multiple processes. There are solutions and we must have the courage to implement them as soon as the bill is adopted. We will all likely cross paths with a healthcare professional in our lives. Imagine if they could intervene faster… That would be one less consultation, one less trip to the ER, and a network that breathes a little easier,” concluded the president.