Montreal·BreakingThe federation representing Quebec’s medical specialists says it’s already taken steps to challenge the premier’s special legislation tabled this morning to force through changes to the compensation model for doctors. Legal process has already begun, says president of the federation representing Quebec medical specialistsCBC News · Posted: Oct 24, 2025 7:03 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 minute agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe Quebec federation representing medical specialists says it will contest Bill 2 in court. (Sylvain Roy Roussel/Radio-Canada)The federation representing medical specialists in Quebec says it’s turning to the courts to challenge Premier François Legault’s bill changing doctors’ remuneration, tabled this morning. The president of the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ), Dr. Vincent Oliva, says it has already begun the legal process. “It’s clear that there are legal elements in this that are absolutely ridiculous and questionable,” he said Friday afternoon.More to come. A previous version of the story can be read below.François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government is forcing through special legislation to change the compensation model for family doctors and medical specialists and put an end to pressure tactics. Bill 2, titled an Act mainly to establish collective responsibility with respect to improvement of access to medical services and to ensure continuity of provision of those services, was tabled at the National Assembly Friday morning. The premier said the state of negotiations with Quebec doctors and medical specialists had left him with no other choice, saying “we are not doing this against doctors, we are doing this for Quebecers.”With 1.5 million Quebecers without a family doctor, including 200 000 patients who are vulnerable, access to health-care services is a top priority, says the CAQ. Under the proposed legislation, every admissible Quebecer will have to be taken in charge by a a family medicine group or the equivalent. The province’s public health insurance board, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), will be tasked with putting in place a mechanism to ensure all eligible patients are affiliated with a health facility or family doctor.The RAMQ will also be responsible for determining a person’s vulnerability level, with a priority given to patients with more serious health problems.The proposed legislation follows the broad lines of what was laid out in Bill 106, which was tabled in May, including linking physicians’ pay to performance indicators to get them to take on heavier patient loads. Technically, 15 per cent of doctors’ annual salaries will be linked to performance indicators, with a collective monetary supplement paid to family doctors and specialists if they reach certain goals aimed at improving access to medical services or ensuring the quality of the services. The bill also includes a provision to end pressure tactics by physicians and the groups that represent them, with significant penalties for those who take part in “concerted actions” such as refraining from training future doctors. Penalties would also be imposed on doctors who leave Quebec’s public network to practise outside the province. These include fines and loss of years of practice for those who subsequently wish to re-enter the Quebec public network. The special law comes after the province tabled its fourth offer amid stalled negotiations and pressure tactics by doctors and medical specialists, who have been without a contract since 2023.The medical specialists’ federation released a statement saying, “We were taken for a ride. It was all scripted for a possible challenge to his law.”Legault’s plan to force through a special law has also been criticized by opposition parties.Québec Solidaire health critic Vincent Marissal said the government’s special law amounts to invoking closure — a parliamentary procedure that limits the time devoted to debating a motion or bill and thereby fast-tracks its adoption.”The opposition is being gagged,” he said, ahead of Friday’s special session. “I am being deprived of my voice in my regular parliamentary work.”On Thursday, Marissal said the move would “further poison our already rotten relationships with doctors,” while not providing any benefits to patients. During these tense negotiations, the federations representing medical specialists and family doctors both resorted to pressure tactics, such as refraining from teaching medical students.On Thursday, the federation representing family doctors announced it would end its boycott, at the pleading of Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez. It also took a jab at Legault, saying he should ”fully play his role as premier” and involve himself more in negotiations instead of resorting to special legislation.WATCH | Where Legault stands and how doctors are reacting:Quebec ‘won’t give in’ to doctors as premier threatens bill to end conflict over their payFrançois Legault’s government is planning to table a special legislation Friday at the National Assembly to stop doctors’ pressure tactics and move forward with changes to the way they’re compensated. In a video, Legault said he’s not doing this against doctors but for Quebecers. ‘Declaration of war’The province said its fourth and latest offer — rejected by medical specialists just hours after it was tabled Wednesday — aimed to address doctors’ concerns about the lack of resources needed to reach the performance targets.The proposal would have guaranteed that regulations linking physicians’ pay to performance would not be changed for the first two years after the law takes effect. It would set aside $50 million for 500 additional health professionals in family medicine groups starting in 2026, and $120 million over four years to improve the patient-physician matching system, which many specialists say is failing.To address operating room shortages, Quebec pledged $400 million over four years, adding eight new ORs and strengthening management. Santé Québec executives would also be subject to performance targets tied to their pay. Vincent Oliva, head of the medical specialists’ federation, criticized the offer, calling it “the same thing four times, even with setbacks,” and urged a non-binding arbitration mechanism. The association called Quebec’s new offer a “declaration of war.”
Medical specialists to challenge Quebec’s special bill forcing new deal with doctors
