Ambitions that exceed our ability to pay
The federal government is being asked to substantially increase its share in the funding of provincial health systems. It’s like asking the Canadian government to increase its budget deficit by $130 billion. This federal money comes out of the same pockets as the money paid to the provinces. What we must understand is that our health systems have ambitions that far exceed our ability to pay. The question is the following: to see the costs of the health system evolve, would it not be time to reconsider the universality of care?
André Brunelle
More efficient management, please
Quebec should say a big thank you and manage more effectively the money it receives and spends inefficiently.
Nicole Barolet
It takes more
This is clearly insufficient and François Legault and the other premiers should continue to negotiate with the federal government, because this amount will not even partially resolve the extremely serious problems of the health care system. For example, my 87-year-old mother with Alzheimer’s disease was left nearly naked in a freezing hallway after breaking her hip eight years ago. And the system has deteriorated considerably since then. I fear that the federal government is keeping its head in the sand and that we will be forced to use private clinics much more than we currently do. As Mr. Legault says, this ridiculous offer from Mr. Trudeau will have to be taken into account in the next election.
Pierre Murray
A dysfunctional system at the base
Quebec should not accept this amount. That’s way too much money to invest in a system that doesn’t work. This amount will not improve the wait and regulate access to a family doctor. There is too much incompetence, it is not by adding money that the system will be lightened. No detailed plan, no money.
William Hillman
Legault must do his homework
I believe that François Legault is struggling to manage the health system and he does not recognize the value of his “guardian angels”. He should stop blaming others and get serious about health needs. He no longer wants to recognize the baccalaureate holders at a higher level as soon as they take up their post. He is unable to ensure acceptable working conditions or to reduce “compulsory overtime”. It’s time for boots to follow lips. He’s spending billions on gift certificates, but surgery waiting lists are growing. If we compare Quebec to the other provinces, we have the impression of being better cared for in Ontario. In short, Mr. Legault should make the working conditions of nurses a priority. In addition, it should invest without delay in infrastructure that is rapidly deteriorating in several regions, particularly in the northern suburbs of Montreal, where the population continues to increase while hospital capacity does not follow the demographic curve. All things considered, it’s time for Mr. Legault to make peace and stop his childish bickering with Mr. Trudeau.
Manon Valley
Everyone loses
As long as they accepted such a ridiculously low offer, the provinces should have accepted certain conditions for a higher offer. Thus, the federal contribution would have increased considerably and permanently. Isn’t that what the provinces were looking for? Now they will be able to blame the federal government for their inability to improve health services. In the end, everyone loses in this story: the provinces will not be able to offer better services for lack of funding, the federal government will be the scapegoat and the population will pay the price. Finally, who really cares about health needs? Sorry.
Luc Villeneuve
Continue negotiations
A happy medium should be negotiated between the demands of the provinces and the ridiculous offer from the federal government.
Guy Dufresne
Farewell, overhaul of the health system
This is clearly insufficient. We have known for a long time that the health care system is underfunded and mismanaged. But it was really at the height of the pandemic that we realized the extent of this disorganization and the lack of money and resources in the system. Justin Trudeau said at the time, when we were in the midst of a crisis, that we were going to fix this after the pandemic. We were expecting a total and complete overhaul of the system, with the necessary sums to achieve this. But no, we are being offered ridiculous sums that will only allow for a slight increase in public funding. Farewell, redesign and hello, the private! All this with the agreement of Mr. Legault. Really very disappointing!
Jacques Lapointe
Disappointing
Quebec should not accept. The amount offered for health care by the federal government is ridiculous. Prime Minister François Legault’s soft reaction to this issue is extremely disappointing. He trusted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and here is the result. Quebec comes out the loser in this exercise.
Sylvain Bertrand, Gatineau
To the provinces to play
It is an excellent first step. It is now up to the provinces to improve the efficiency of services. If we simplified the bureaucracy, we could provide even more services. Putting in more money is a simplistic and easy fix, but it won’t yield meaningful results unless it’s backed by process improvement.
Mathias LeBlanc
No problem with the conditions
Personally, I’m not offended that the federal government is looking over the shoulder of the provinces. The federal government is not an example of good management, but neither are the provinces, particularly with regard to health in Quebec. Federal money also comes from our taxes and it seems normal to me that we wonder about how it is managed.
John Landry
Better management needed
In my opinion, regardless of the sums invested, whether they come from the federal government or from a provincial budget extension, it will never be sufficient as long as there are no severe restrictions on spending. The solution to healing the wound in the health system will come from better management. It is too easy to ask taxpayers for more. What this public sector needs is a good PhD in business administration.
Stephane Lamarre