In 2018, the population of Quebec elected a pragmatic CAQ government clearly focused on unbridled economic growth. A government led by a few elected officials from the world of business and accounting sciences. In 2022, the population re-elected this same government.
Currently, no one can ignore the multiple problems remaining in Quebec. We cannot ignore the serious problems plaguing the health and social services network as well as the education network and we cannot ignore the serious shortcomings in the housing sector. The social fabric is crumbling, sacrificed on the altar of boundless economic growth led by a handful of accountants and elected officials from the business world.
The CAQ government is pragmatic. He proves it almost daily. On September 7, the minister responsible for Social Services “urged elected officials to lower their voices” while a municipal representative questioned him regarding the Quebec government’s inaction on homelessness. It seemed then that it was easier for the minister to attack the messenger than the message.
Recently, the Minister responsible for Housing told us that building shelters for abused women was proving too expensive. This same minister then spoke of costs per door that were too high. While the minister should have noticed broken lives, human tragedies and significant social costs, she saw doors. Does the Minister of Housing not see that in front of each of these doors, there are many women who are experiencing totally unacceptable situations? Does she not see that in front of each of these doors, there are many women who need help? Doesn’t she see that we must talk about abused women and not doors?
Last week, the Minister of Health was questioned about the fact that a woman, after waiting more than 17 hours in the emergency room of the Lanaudière hospital center, died without having received any care. A few people have suffered the same fate in different hospitals in the province in recent years. The Minister of Health then responded: “This kind of error happens. » He stated that this death was attributable to a triage and treatment problem at the hospital center. He concluded by saying that this death “was very unfortunate”.
I have not heard the Minister of Health say that this situation is unacceptable. I did not hear the Minister of Health say that it is completely unacceptable that a person presenting to the emergency room of a hospital center with an aneurysm could die 17 hours later, in the toilets of said hospital center, without having received the slightest care. I did not hear the Minister of Health formally apologize to the victim’s relatives for the failure of the health network to provide care to this woman.
This week, the Minister responsible for Seniors and Minister for Health announced that she had commissioned a research group to “understand the motives of people who resort to medical assistance in dying.” Is the minister not aware of the phenomenon of dehumanization of care in the health and social services network? Is she not aware of the difficulties of accessing front-line services? Is she not aware of the difficulties of accessing home care and services? Is she not aware that the hospital-centric vision of the health network operates to the detriment of prevention?
I have been working in the community sector for several years. Every week, I try, like thousands of colleagues, to bring a little humanity to the care and services provided to the population. A population that is often in a situation of temporary or permanent vulnerability. I am not in a management position. I am a speaker who works with human beings. I make it a point of honor to infuse humanity into the services I provide. Wouldn’t it be desirable for our leaders to demonstrate the same humanity?