The Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists (FMSQ) and the Quebec government have agreed on a mediation process. An initial meeting with the mediator was scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon.
“The FMSQ confirms that it has reached an agreement with the Quebec government to launch a mediation process regarding negotiations related to the renewal of its framework agreement,” the Federation wrote on social media.
La FMSQ confirme en être venue à une entente avec le Gouvernement du Québec pour lancer un processus de médiation à l’égard des négociations liées au renouvellement de son Accord cadre. Une première rencontre avec le médiateur aura lieu en fin de journée aujourd’hui. La… pic.twitter.com/xvl4C8RWwB
Health Minister Christian Dubé issued a joint statement with Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau confirming the news.
“We welcome the decision by the Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists to participate in mediation, a process that will allow discussions to resume in a constructive manner, in the best interests of patients,” the statement reads.
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The mediator, who was jointly appointed, is Jacques R. Fournier, served as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec from 2015 to 2022, according to the ministers’ statement.
The Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) and the FMSQ oppose Bill 106, which was tabled on May 8 in the National Assembly. Through this bill, the government would like to link the remuneration of general practitioners, as well as that of medical specialists, to performance indicators.
The two medical associations have been taking pressure tactics for several weeks. For example, they have stopped participating in medical-administrative meetings that do not directly affect patients.
The FMSQ has also stopped teaching medical students, while the FMOQ is threatening to do the same.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
