Bill 15: Quebec health reform bill passes after CAQ invokes closure

Quebec’s health reform bill was adopted Saturday morning after debates through the night at the National Assembly.

Bill 15, which most notably will create Santé Québec, received 75 votes in favour and 27 votes against.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé called it a “great day,” adding the bill would have positive effects for patients in hospitals – something opposition parties have expressed doubt about.

Santé Québec will be responsible for coordinating the health and services network’s operations. It will integrate the CISSS and CIUSSS.

Bill 15 is part of the CAQ government’s desire to obtain more “flexibility” from employees within the health network, most of whom are currently on strike until Dec. 14 as part of the renegotiation of their collective agreements.

Dubé maintains the reform will give Quebecers better access to specialist doctors. It will be possible to receive treatment anywhere, regardless of postal code, and be offered an alternative solution – to another region or to the private network – when wait times are considered unreasonable.

The bill was studied for more than 200 hours. It was the fifth time since 2018 the Legault government invoked closure to speed up the adoption of a bill. Closure allows a bill to be passed without all the articles having been studied.

Parliamentary work was adjourned until Jan. 30, 2024.

–With files from La Presse Canadienne