The Quebec government led by Premier Legault has declined the request for arbitration put forth by the Federation of General Practitioners (FMOQ).
Health Minister Christian Dubé has expressed concerns that agreeing to arbitration could result in an extra $1.8 billion in compensation costs.
In response to the ongoing disagreement with the government, the FMOQ has taken legal action by filing a motion for independent arbitration.
During a recent press conference, Minister Dubé emphasized that Quebec’s unique circumstances should not be compared to the rest of Canada, where arbitration has led to a substantial increase in doctors’ compensation ranging from 17% to 20%.
Estimations indicate that based on Quebec’s annual $9 billion doctor payroll, a potential $1.8 billion rise in compensation could be incurred if arbitration is accepted.
Minister Dubé has underscored that the additional $1.8 billion in payments to doctors is not something that Quebec residents can financially sustain.
