Negotiations with doctors: Dubé ready to compromise
Posted September 17, 2025 12:32 pm.
Last Updated September 17, 2025 4:08 pm.
Faced with difficult negotiations with doctors, Health Minister Christian Dubé has agreed to compromise. He is proposing that the portion of doctors’ remuneration linked to performance indicators be reduced from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.
The information, first reported by Radio-Canada on Wednesday, was confirmed by The Canadian Press.
“Over the summer, I met with many doctors, not just the federations. And what I would say to you today is that we will remain very firm on our principles. But we have already come a long way,” the minister said on Wednesday upon his arrival at the National Assembly.
The CAQ government is in free fall in the polls. Dubé assured that this had no impact on the negotiations.
“On the contrary, we are doing what needs to be done regardless of the polls,” he said.
Last May, the Legault government introduced Bill 106, which seeks to force doctors to take on more patients by linking part of their compensation to their collective performance.
The Health Minister has repeatedly stated that there is no question of withdrawing his bill, but he has said he is open to amendments.
The bill has sparked outrage among doctors, who have taken action.
On Tuesday, the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners (FMOQ) called on its members to stop participating in medical-administrative activities that do not directly impact patients.
Last week, the Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists (FMSQ) announced that specialists would stop teaching undergraduate medical students, while continuing to teach residents for the time being.
It should be noted that last Friday, the FMOQ also filed a legal action against the Ministry of Health and Social Services, asking the Superior Court of Quebec to “declare that the government failed in its duty of good faith during negotiations surrounding the renewal of the agreement” with general practitioners, according to the application filed in court.
-With information from Katrine Desautels
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
