MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller was among the local politicians who took part in a protest over the weekend. She and her colleagues, including mayors from other nearby Quebec municipalities, are concerned about Bill 2, which would overhaul compensation for doctors in the province.
Toller took to social media to explain the issue. She says a health care quota system like that under Bill 2 is “ridiculous” and “hurting us all”. She says rural doctors can’t be paid based on the number of patients they see each day in their clinics because they also work in palliative care, long term care and hospital and urgent care.
She says doctors don’t feel supported by the government and Bill 2 needs to be repealed. The issue is going before the MRC Pontiac Council when it meets on Wednesday of this week (Nov 26) and it’s expected they will vote on a resolution and launch a petition.
Toller says the Outaouais has long suffered from underfunding and competition with Ontario in attracting and retaining doctors. The Canadian Medical Association also recently warned the changes under Bill 2 could push many physicians to retire early or leave Quebec for other provinces.
(Written by Cindy Clyne)
