Petition against Quebec’s Bill 15 garners 6,400 signatures, will be presented at National Assembly

A petition against Quebec’s Bill 15 – the proposed overhauling of the healthcare network in the province – garnered nearly 6,400 signatures in the span of 16 days.

It was brought forth by the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and sponsored by Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone. 

The petition claimed the CAQ government has not sufficiently consulted on Bill 15, which proposes “a major and radical shift in health and social services policy not yet fully understood.”

Under the proposed law, the healthcare system would be centralized under Santé Québec, abolishing the Boards of local institutions, and removing management roles from patients. Critics have argued that Bill 15 would limit access to healthcare in English and jeopardize the status of bilingual institutions.

Last week, a surprise amendment to the Bill would give Santé Québec the power to revoke the right to offer English services in institutions in areas where the minority communities have shrunk below 50 per cent.

“We know the government wants to ram this bill through the National Assembly by the end of the week, so we had to move fast to make sure the Minister realized just how disappointed Quebecers are with this proposed legislation,” said QCGN President Eva Ludvig, in a press release Monday. “It is clear Quebecers are upset at having their voices silenced in the management of their local health-care institutions like hospitals.”

The 6,387 people that signed the petition have asked the government to reconsider Bill 15 to “avoid negative effects on patients, volunteers, researchers and Quebec’s local communities.” 

They also want there to be additional consultations so more citizens and groups can be heard, as well as amendments to preserve local health and social service governance.

The petition is being presented in the National Assembly on Tuesday, while Bill 15 is expected to pass before the end of the session in a couple of weeks.