Bill 7 could cost lives, Transplant Québec cautions

Transplant Québec is sounding the alarm over its planned dissolution under Bill 7, warning that the move could result in fewer organ donors, service disruptions, and even an increase in preventable deaths. The organization is urging Quebec City to reverse its decision.

Specifically, Transplant Québec is asking that any provision in Bill 7—the “Act to reduce bureaucracy, increase government efficiency, and strengthen the accountability of senior public servants”—that would transfer its activities to Héma-Québec be removed.

Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau says the bill aims to save $35 million by 2029-2030, notably by cutting 220 full-time positions, including about 100 in the health-care system.

If passed as written, Héma-Québec would assume responsibility for organ donation and transplantation activities currently managed by Transplant Québec. Funding for Transplant Québec would end on April 1, 2026.

On Tuesday morning, Transplant Québec presented its case during special consultations on Bill 7. Executive Director Martine Bouchard urged the government to preserve a model that works and saves lives.

Bouchard stressed that the activities coordinated daily by Transplant Québec differ significantly from those handled by Héma-Québec, which she described as equally essential. She highlighted her organization’s 55 years of experience, warning that dismantling this system could jeopardize hundreds of lives each year.

Héma-Québec sought to reassure the public when it announced the transfer of organ donation activities. “Héma-Québec’s top priority is to maintain all services related to organ donation and transplantation before, during, and after this transfer. This process relies largely on the smooth and harmonious integration of the expertise of Transplant Québec’s staff,” the Crown corporation wrote in a press release issued on Nov. 6.

Héma-Québec noted that it integrated the management of human tissue donation in 2001 and became the sole distributor of human tissue a year ago. In 2024-2025, Héma-Québec distributed nearly 7,700 human tissues to hospitals across the province.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews