FMSQ rejects Quebec’s fourth offer: calls it a ‘declaration of war’
Posted October 22, 2025 12:56 pm.
Last Updated October 22, 2025 6:36 pm.
The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) rejected the Legault government’s fourth offer on the same day it was presented, on Wednesday.
“We received this morning a proposal that is a declaration of war, which is an ultimatum (…), we are facing an affront,” said FMSQ negotiator Lucien Bouchard at a press conference in Montreal alongside the federation’s president, Vincent Oliva.
The FMSQ is having a hard time accepting that this offer is “final.”
Quebec argued that its offer met the doctors’ demands and added at least $800 million more to the table over four years in the hope of concluding negotiations once and for all.
It is a “pseudo-offer” that even includes “some setbacks,” said Dr. Oliva, which leaves a “great risk of disengagement” of its “angry” members.
“This is not the time to beat up doctors,” he argued, denouncing the government’s Bill 106, which would link 15 per cent of doctors’ remuneration to the achievement of performance indicators.
The FMSQ accuses the government of wanting to add fuel to the fire by calling its latest proposal a “final,” but responds by proposing to put an end to its pressure tactic, the boycott of medical student training, in exchange for recourse to non-binding arbitration.
The arbitrator would provide “objective insight” and could propose recommendations, argued Bouchard. “Where is the common sense? Where is the truth? What should be done?”
The government, for its part, has always refused binding arbitration, since it is an unelected person who would make important decisions affecting public finances.
Both the Federation of General Practitioners (FMOQ) and the Federation of Medical Specialists (FMSQ) have taken a hard line in recent months by opposing Bill 106.
Among other things, they argue that they are not the only ones responsible for the failures of the health system and that they must obtain more resources, whether it is the prolonged opening of technical platforms, operating rooms, etc.
Quebec therefore proposed to remedy this: an additional $100 million per year over four years would be disbursed to increase the availability of operating rooms. Total: $400 million.
Also, an additional $50 million was offered on recurring occasions per year for Family Medicine Groups (FMGs), so $200 million over four years.
The government also added $30 million per year over four years to add professionals to the Service Request Dispatch Centres (CRDS), which refers requests for consultations from medical specialists. Total: $120 million.
This made it possible to hire nearly 300 people to reduce waiting lists.
And in addition, Quebec committed to investing $40 million per year over 10 years in the CRDS, in order to modernize their information resource equipment. The total will be $160 million over four years, and $400 million over 10 years.
Another concession: the government wanted to link the remuneration of the vice-presidents and the president of Santé Québec to the achievement of the same performance targets set for doctors.
Finally, the government was prepared to limit some of the minister’s discretion: there could be no amendments to the regulations for a period of two years.
Health Minister Christian Dubé and Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau said they were open to discussing the offer with the doctors’ federations – Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) and Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) – but refused to answer questions about the content of the proposal.
They are asking the two federations to return to the negotiating table, and Dubé insisted on the urgency of taking action, given that doctors are applying pressure tactics – like suspending the training activities of medical students.
In a brief statement before attending the cabinet meeting, Premier François Legault asked doctors to return to the negotiating table.
Legault posted to his socials that he will address the public later this evening about the ongoing negotiations.
“I’m going to speak to you this evening about the negotiations with the doctors’ unions. What’s happening is important; I’ll tell you more about it later,” said Legault on X.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
