The day after the publication of an imposing investigative report of nearly 200 pages on the carnage that occurred in CHSLDs at the start of the pandemic, Prime Minister François Legault recognizes “that we need more accountability from top to bottom”.
This is what the Prime Minister replied at a press conference Tuesday in Laval, where he was questioned about his government’s share of responsibility after the release of the report by coroner Géhane Kamel.
Accountability, explained François Legault, “it starts with the Prime Minister, it continues with the ministers, deputy ministers and managers in the networks”, that is to say “the CEOs of the CIUSS and CISSS”.
In her inquest report, coroner Géhane Kamel wrote that the government should in particular do a retrospective on “the hierarchy of decisions, the agility of the health system in times of crisis, the understanding and execution of responsibilities within the Ministries of Health, Seniors and Caregivers as well as within the CIUSSS and CISSS”.
Mr. Legault defended himself by indicating that the “Prime Minister and the Minister of Health cannot begin to manage what is happening in all health establishments in Quebec”, before adding that “when someone does not manage well, you have to change the manager”.
Coroner Kamel’s report also claimed the first victim on Tuesday when the president and CEO of the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’île-de-Montréal, where the CHSLD Herron was located, Lynne McVey, announced that she will step down at the end of her mandate next July.
The coroner’s inquest focused on the deaths of 53 people in seven of the CHSLDs most affected by the health crisis, including CHSLD Herron.
During Tuesday afternoon’s press conference, in the presence of the Mayor of Laval, Stéphane Boyer, and the Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, François Legault indicated “that it was important that the CEOs of the CIUSS and CISSS monitor what is happening and inform the government”, but, he added, “this was not the case with the CHSLD Herron”.
The coroner also recommended that the government transform all non-contracted private CHSLDs into contracted CHSLDs and suggested “moving towards the deprivatization” of the system.
To which Prime Minister Legault replied that he preferred to assess each situation.
“It’s something we’re considering, but you have to go on a case-by-case basis, you have to understand that there are private establishments that provide excellent services and there are public establishments where there are improvements to be made, so the important thing is not so much the model, public or private, but that the services are provided efficiently and that the quality is there. »
François Legault also mentioned that his team is in the process of taking note of the coroner’s report and that “many of its recommendations have already been implemented”. He listed the addition of beneficiary attendants in the CHSLDs, the increase in their remuneration, the establishment of “a boss for each CHSLD” and “the hiring of personnel in the prevention of infections”.
Skeete ‘comfortable’ with Bill 96
Before meeting the Mayor of Laval, the Prime Minister visited the MP for Sainte-Rose in his riding.
Christopher Skeete, who is also the Premier’s parliamentary assistant for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, said he was “very comfortable with his party’s position on Bill 96”.
He considers that the bill, which is sowing controversy in certain English-speaking circles, is a “balanced and balanced” proposal.
“It’s just a matter of having a calm discussion”, because “this is a very emotional subject”, indicated the deputy.
Asked what he thought of members of the English-speaking community who gathered in front of Dawson College in Montreal to demonstrate against Bill 96 last Saturday, he replied: “I think there is , as in any group, people who have positions a little more drastic than others. We see the same thing on the other side, there are francophones who think that Bill 96 does not go far enough, that it could go much further. Me, I try not to rely too much on extremes, ”said the CAQ member.
Bill 96 should be adopted by the National Assembly by the end of the parliamentary session. It aims to impose tougher restrictions for workplaces and municipalities.
The future law will limit the use of English in courts and public services, strengthen the powers of seizure and search of the Office de la langue française and establish a cap on registrations for English-speaking CEGEPs. Students will have to take a greater number of courses in French.
On this subject, Premier Legault indicated that 17% of Quebec CEGEP students study in an English-language establishment, while Anglophones represent 9% of Quebec society.
The proposals of Bill 96 are “reasonable”, repeated the Prime Minister.
A debate in English without the Prime Minister
François Legault was also questioned about his refusal to participate in an electoral debate organized by a consortium of English-speaking media and scheduled for September 20.
The Prime Minister pointed out that preparing for debates takes a lot of time, and that he had already agreed to cross swords with the other leaders on the airwaves of TVA and Radio-Canada, in French, which ensured that he could not add another debate to his schedule.
He added: “Let’s not forget that the common language in Quebec is French. »
Increase the offer of public transit in Laval
François Legault had traveled to Laval to discuss various subjects, including public transport, with Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
In front of the journalists, the two elected officials agreed that it was necessary to definitively increase the offer of public transport in Laval, specifying that several scenarios were under study.
“We are looking as much on the east-west axis as the north-south axis,” said François Legault.
New bus lines, extension of the orange line, tramway and even the possibility of an electric train were part of the discussions between the mayor and the prime minister.