(Quebec) The deployment of the flying health team continues at a trickle. Despite efforts to speed up the pace, only 33 caregivers have been sent as reinforcements to the Côte-Nord and Abitibi-Témiscamingue. And the Outaouais is still waiting.
The Legault government’s public flying team is “still progressing” and its “strength is increasing day by day,” the Health Minister’s office said on Wednesday.
The latest report shows 65 hires. Of this number, 33 caregivers were officially deployed in the regions hardest hit by the tightening of the use of labor placement agencies. The CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue is receiving help from 19 workers – mostly beneficiary attendants (PAB) – and the Côte-Nord is welcoming 14 (3 nurses, 4 auxiliaries and 7 PAB).
Health workers deployed, as of August 7, 2024
- 21 PAB
- 6 nurses
- 6 auxiliary nurses
- Total: 33
- Source: MSSS
That’s a long way from the mark. Before the parliamentary recess, Minister Christian Dubé was hoping to deploy a flying team of some 500 caregivers to put out the fires this summer.
The Côte-Nord region requested at least 38 nurses and Abitibi-Témiscamingue requested 15 nurses and 6 nursing assistants. These requests, made before the holidays, corresponded exclusively to needs to avoid disruptions to essential services this summer, it was indicated.
The situation remains fragile in these two regions, as very few nurses have answered the call so far. The major nurses’ union, the FIQ, is not a party to the agreement.
The Outaouais, for its part, has still not welcomed any caregivers. “We are continuing to work to send some as quickly as possible,” the office said. The CISSS de l’Outaouais indicates that the situation is “precarious, but stable” for the moment.
The flying team, announced in the wake of the labour crisis that rocked the Côte-Nord this spring, got off to a rocky start. After promising the first hires starting June 20, Mr. Dubé was forced to admit that the recruitment process was taking too long.
The minister stated that the Ministry had received 1,200 resumes. He then asked his teams and institutions to speed up the pace. Mr. Dubé also visited the Côte-Nord in July.
“What slows things down a lot, I would say, is all the bureaucracy. The CISSS must confirm the place of accommodation, the place of work for example,” explains the interim president of section 2881 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Maxime Bernard. The union oversees the deployment of PABs and health and social services auxiliaries (ASSS).
In the context of a housing shortage, the issue of accommodation complicates the process in particular. It is the health establishments which must accommodate the personnel of the flying team.
Agency employees
Encouraging point: Mr. Bernard notes that between “60 and 70%” of PABs and ASSSs who have been recruited so far come from private placement agencies. Minister Christian Dubé’s bet is to tighten the screws on the agencies so that their workers integrate the public network. Quebec wants to completely wean itself off independent workers by 2026.
Workers deployed to remote regions will receive a bonus of $100 per day under agreements reached with the unions participating in the offensive (FTQ, CSN, APTS). They also benefit from other advantages in effect in the region, such as remote location premiums.
They must commit to traveling for at least 28 consecutive days, Mr. Bernard said.
“I would say that the bonus is the main attraction,” says the union representative, who says he is “convinced” that the government’s initiative will be viable in the long term.