Quebec Premier François Legault has declared plans to introduce a special bill on Friday to address the ongoing deadlock in negotiations with doctors.
The proposed legislation aims to revamp doctors’ payment structure by tying it to performance metrics and prohibiting them from using halting teaching as a bargaining tactic. Legault accused the doctors’ union of resisting change and issued an ultimatum during a video message to Quebec residents.
“If an agreement cannot be reached, we will present a bill on Friday to reform their compensation system and put an end to their pressure tactics,” Legault stated.
In a swift response, the specialist doctors’ union, Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ), rejected the government’s latest offer, labeling it a “declaration of war” and citing a setback in mediation efforts.
Additionally, Legault faced criticism for his decision to run for a third term in the upcoming elections, despite a recent poll indicating that a significant majority of voters oppose his continued leadership beyond 2026.
