(Quebec) Premier François Legault is wrong to adopt a “confrontational” approach with nurses, says Parti Québécois (PQ) spokesperson for health, Joël Arseneau.
In a press briefing at the National Assembly on Friday morning, Mr. Arseneau accused the Prime Minister of sending nurses a “very negative” message.
The day before, Mr. Legault had asked the nurses to be more flexible in the negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreement.
He said he wanted to offer “exceptional” conditions to nurses who left to work in private employment agencies, in order to repatriate them to the public network.
PHOTO PATRICE LAROCHE, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Joel Arseneau
Mr. Legault suggested that the unions did not want to come and sit down at the negotiating table.
“They say that if there is a shortage of nurses, well yesterday in the speech, it was a bit the fault of the nurses”, declared Mr. Arseneau on the sidelines of an interpellation on the theme of health.
“We feel in the government discourse […] that it would be up to the nurses to show greater flexibility. I think the message there is very negative.
“It is not likely to improve for the next few weeks with an approach […] of confrontation, at least, of wanting to place the burden of the problems on the backs of healthcare professionals,” he added.