Quebec medical students from all 4 faculties voted in favour of strike

The four medical faculties in Quebec held referendums this week on an unlimited general student strike. On Friday morning, University of Sherbrooke, Laval University, University of Montréal, and McGill University confirmed that their medical students had voted in favour of a strike mandate.

The results of the vote, however, show that the student community appears divided, or that some fear the reprisals stipulated in Bill 2 for concerted strike action. In Sherbrooke, 65.8 per cent voted in favour of a strike mandate, provided it is legal. Voter turnout was 75.5 per cent.

This mandate applies to the Sherbrooke, Saguenay, and Montérégie campuses, specified the General Medical Student Association of the University of Sherbrooke (AGÉMUS).

At Laval University, 53 per cent of the votes were in favour of an unlimited general student strike. The voter turnout was 76.4 per cent.

It was also agreed at the special general meeting of the Laval University Medical Students’ Association (RÉMUL) held on Oct. 26 that, should a vote be in favour of a strike, the referendum would be held weekly.

“The referendum will therefore be held again next week, from Wednesday at noon to Saturday at noon,” states a message from RÉMUL sent to students, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press.

In its statement, RÉMUL specifies that, for legal reasons, it “cannot recommend participation in a strike, and instead advocates the use of pressure tactics that do not compromise the continuation of academic activities.”

At the University of Montreal, 70.4 per cent of students voted in favour of a strike, with a voter turnout of 73.7 per cent. The strike mandate applies to the Montreal and Mauricie campuses.

Nicolas Dostie, president of the University of Montreal Medical Students’ Association (AÉÉMUM), said that the students were worried and afraid to speak out about their frustration with Bill 2.

“We’re not saying that we’re against the fact that all patients should have access to a doctor,” Dostie said. “We’re just saying that the government shouldn’t force a law without consulting the persons who are seeing the patients every day.”

At McGill University Medical Students’ Association (MSS), 64.2 per cent of participants voted in favour of a strike mandate, provided it is legal. The participation rate was 63.3 per cent. This mandate applies to the Montreal and Gatineau campuses.

“A very, very strong majority voted on that they do not want to practice in a Quebec that does not have a health system that works for both its patients and its health professionals,” said Ryan Kara, executive president of MSS-Montreal campus.

Kara also criticized Bill 2: “With this new law essentially asking for fast food medicine – five, 10 minutes (per) patient — well, in what timeframe is there going to be teaching in that 10 minutes?”

“Although no strike has yet been called, the students are sending a clear message with this mandate: they are never hostages of the medical federations; even more importantly, they are joining forces with them against Bill 2,” the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSS) wrote in a press release.

Students in court

It should be noted that the Quebec Federation of Medical Students (FMEQ) announced Wednesday that it has initiated legal proceedings to challenge several articles of the special law, which it argues infringes on the rights of expression, student associations, and the right to strike.

The FMEQ is asking the Quebec Superior Court to suspend the application of the articles that infringe on these freedoms, since the articles in question provide for hefty fines for students and associations.

“By creating a climate of coercion, surveillance, and centralization, this law undermines the professional freedom of physicians and the quality of medical education,” AGÉMUS stated on Facebook.

“Those in training refuse to become caregivers in a system where decisions are imposed without dialogue, undermining trust and collaboration. By reducing physicians’ room for maneuver and weakening training, Bill 2 makes patients the first losers.”

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The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews