Doctors in Quebec are outraged by a recent provincial law that introduces a new pay system for doctors and prohibits them from using pressure tactics to oppose the policy.
Meanwhile, neighboring provinces are openly flirting with Quebec doctors seeking greener pastures. Here are five things to know about the ongoing battle between doctors and the provincial government.
How did it start?
In May, the Quebec government introduced legislation aimed at improving access to health care for the approximately 1.5 million Quebecers who do not have a family doctor. Premier Francois Legault promised all Quebecers access to a family doctor during the 2018 election campaign that brought his party to power, although he later admitted that this would not be possible. The government now says it wants every Quebecer to have access to a health care professional by the summer of 2026.
House Bill 106 sought to enroll all residents in health clinics. The government has also proposed tying part of doctors' remuneration to performance measures such as the number of appointments and number of surgeries, with the government initially suggesting that up to 25 percent of their salaries could be tied to these measures. Health Minister Christian Dubé said the reform would encourage doctors to see more patients.
How did the doctors react?
Receive weekly health news
Get the latest medical news and health information every Sunday.
Bad. Quebec's two federations of doctors argued that the changes would reduce the quality of care in favor of volume, and could also overwhelm doctors and cause an exodus to other provinces. Doctors accused the government of calling them lazy and called for the bill to be withdrawn.
This fall, amid stalled government contract negotiations, two federations stopped training medical students in a boycott. Then last week Legault announced he would use special legislation to push through reform and break the impasse, saying he was acting on behalf of patients.
What's in the special bill?
House Bill 2, introduced Friday, includes the core principles of House Bill 106, including the new payment system. But it also includes taking steps to stop doctors' pressure tactics. Under the legislation, doctors could be fined up to $20,000 a day if they take “concerted action,” such as deciding in groups of three or more to refuse to teach students or leave the province.
The bill moved quickly through the legislature on Friday and was passed early Saturday after the government called for adjournment to cut off debate. Opposition parties voted against it. Ultimately, the law ties 10 percent of physician compensation to performance targets.
What was the reaction?
Doctors immediately began protesting the new law, which they say violates their personal freedoms. On Tuesday, several doctors appeared in front of the legislature wearing black tape over their lips. The federation of medical professionals said it would file the case in Quebec Superior Court on Wednesday.
The province is struggling to contain the fallout. On Wednesday, Dubé published an open letter defending the measures and reassuring doctors that the goal was not to cut their pay. The government also published responses to various questions about the bill, saying it was not trying to silence anyone and that doctors would not be fined simply for opposing the law.
What happens next?
Ontario and New Brunswick took the opportunity to attract hapless doctors from Quebec. On Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford joked that Quebec doctors should call 1-800-Doug-Ford and said he would roll out the red carpet for doctors looking to move west. Legault said Ford's comments were “totally unacceptable.”
Ontario and New Brunswick have received more than 100 license applications from Quebec doctors in recent weeks, according to the provincial medical board, although that doesn't mean all of those doctors will eventually move.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
