MONTREAL – The Legault government in Quebec has introduced Bill 2, a special law enacted via a controversial ‘Gang Order’ (special legislative process), to impose a new compensation and salary system on the province’s doctors. The government states the law is intended to guarantee consistent healthcare service availability and put an end to perceived pressure tactics employed by medical professionals.
The legislation includes severe financial and disciplinary consequences for doctors who engage in collective action:
- Fines for Doctors: Physicians who participate in collective protests or workplace walkouts will face daily fines of up to $20,000, in addition to potential disciplinary action.
- Fines for Federations: Medical federations representing doctors could be fined up to $500,000 per day for similar actions.
Performance-Based Compensation
A central component of the new bill is the introduction of performance-based compensation. Under the new rules, 10% of a doctor’s total income will be determined by performance evaluations and their success in achieving specific targets set by the government.
The law includes a single exemption: doctors over the age of 65 will be excluded from the performance-based pay structure.
Strong Opposition and Legal Threat
The bill has met fierce opposition from the medical community. Doctors have voiced concerns that the mandated targets are unrealistic given the existing deficiencies and lack of adequate resources within the healthcare system.
Dr. Vincent Olivier, President of the Medical Specialist Federation of Quebec (FMSQ), strongly condemned the law, going so far as to liken the government’s imposition of the bill to “Soviet rule.” Dr. Olivier further announced that the FMSQ plans to take legal action against the new law immediately.
