Pauline Marois believes the trip she took this week with five other former Quebec premiers to ask François Legault’s government to change its health care reform was done by the book.
Lobbying Commissioner Jean-François Routhier criticized Ms Marois, Lucien Bouchard, Jean Charest, Pierre Marc Johnson, Daniel Johnson and Philippe Couillard for a lack of transparency in their actions.
In a letter to the Prime Minister published last Tuesday, they called for health care boards not to be abolished, as proposed in Bill 15.
Some regret that they have acted as spokespersons for institutions and people who have been trying behind the scenes for months to influence the Minister of Health Christian Dubé, i.e. members of the health councils. Administration of the university hospitals (CHU) and specialized university institutes.
“I am tall and have enough experience to make my decisions,” defended Ms. Marois on Saturday in Saint-Hyacinthe, where Parti Québécois activists met in a national council.
Among the six prime ministers, four are lawyers, I think they must be aware that there are rules that must be respected. This is a question I asked about whether everything is correct and in accordance with the lobbying law. I was told yes.
Why want to fix what isn’t broken?
In an interview with Radio-Canada, Ms. Marois returned to the accusation and lamented the loss of autonomy that Quebec’s major health institutions will suffer as a result of Minister Christian Dubé’s reform.
In particular, Bill 15 aims to integrate the four university clinical centers (CHUM, MUHC, CHUQ, CHU Sainte-Justine) and the three specialized institutes (the Montreal Heart Institute, the Philippe-Pinel Institute and the University Institute of Cardiology and Pulmonology) of Quebec ) within the framework of the Ministry of Health and the new agency Santé Québec.
Why want to fix what isn’t broken? introduced Ms. Marois. These large institutions have a long history and expertise and for most of them are recognized worldwide. Why not allow them to continue while we obviously work together and share all that expertise?
Ms. Marois does not question Health Minister Christian Dubé’s reform proposals and understands his desire to further integrate health care.
There is no objection [à cet égard] However, on the part of these institutions there are objections to the dissolution of the corpus they represent, since they are effective due to their synergy and really help the public health system.
These are institutions that have enormous expertise, conduct research, offer supervision, carry out technology assessments and teach […] and who provide a service to the patients, the sick, she added.
No more three-tier schooling
Pauline Marois took part in discussions on the promotion of public education, which is on the agenda of the PQ National Council this weekend.
After advocating for a complete end to subsidies for private schools, the Parti Québécois is now proposing to fund them 100 percent in return for more school diversity.
Open in full screen mode
Pauline Marois and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in the National Council of the Parti Québécois
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
Currently, private schools receive subsidies from the state equal to 60% of what public schools receive for a student in the regular sector.
The PQ proposals would allow private schools to be 100% funded if they agree to accreditation, that is, if they forego selecting their students based on academic results or behavior. In return, those who reject the agreement would lose part of their state funding, which would fall below 50%.
I believe this is a proposal that needs serious consideration. We are faced with a discrepancy: private schools are skimming money from public schools.
These proposals will be debated at the end of the week by activists who will have to adopt the positions the party will take on education in the coming years.
The aim of the new measures is to ensure equal opportunities and to put an end to the three-tier school system, which is based on a public school with a regular program, a selective public school with individual programs and private schools.
According to PQ, the three-tier school reproduces inequalities and students receive a differentiated education based on their social background or their academic performance.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon made it clear on Saturday that he would not force his elected officials to send their children to public school.
“It is certain that, ideally, our education ministers believe in our public system,” explained Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon. As much as I believe supporting public schools is important, I will not engage in inquisitions. I make my decisions.
With information from The Canadian Press