Posted at 6:29 p.m.
(Quebec) In an extremely rare appearance, six former prime ministers criticize Christian Dubé’s reforms with one voice. They even spoke directly to François Legault, who was dissatisfied with the amendments presented on Tuesday by the Minister of Health.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that it had received a letter signed by six former prime ministers on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Minister Dubé presented a series of amendments to further adapt his Bill 15, which aims to make the health and social services network more efficient make.
The focus of his proposals is to give more powers to the future boards of directors who will replace the executive boards and to clarify the entire process of making donations to foundations. This exit by Christian Dubé is not unrelated to pressure from former prime ministers, which was first reported by Radio-Canada. Mr. Dubé also confirmed on Tuesday that he had had “discussions” with some of them.
“One prime minister told me: “Go as far as you can.” […] by not distorting your calculations.” Then it touched me because these prime ministers I spoke to really respect the work of a minister. You can say, ‘Listen, we’re giving you the message, but we don’t need to know what you’re going to do in the morning,'” Mr. Dubé summarized in a press briefing on Tuesday.
However, a source familiar with the file confirmed to La Presse that the letter was sent after noting the changes proposed by the minister, as they felt they were not enough. The letter is dated October 24, 2023 and is addressed only to the Prime Minister. It is signed by Pauline Marois, Lucien Bouchard, Jean Charest, Philippe Couillard, Daniel Johnson and Pierre-Marc Johnson.
As you know, to date we have never intervened together. But under the current circumstances, we believe it is our duty to share our concerns with you.
Excerpt from the letter
Former elected officials oppose the “merger” of hospitals and university institutes in Santé Québec, the new state corporation created by the Dubé reform. In their opinion, this will have “a significant negative impact on these institutions, which play an essential role in democratic society.”
It is emphasized that these institutions “combine in one organization care, research, teaching, technology assessment and prevention”, that “their activities are inseparable and perfectly integrated” and that they “also each have their own history and peculiarities”.
Bill 15 creates Santé Québec, which becomes the sole employer of the health and social services network. This new state body must oversee the entire operational aspect of the ministry, which can focus on setting key directions. The company boards are replaced by works councils.
“The assimilation of the Montreal Heart Institute through its full merger with Santé Québec or the separation of these pillars would break the spirit of the Montreal Heart Institute and reduce the major clinical impact of its discoveries,” former elected officials cite as an example. The core of their complaints: the loss of an independent legal entity per branch.
The merger at Santé Québec […] Other academic institutions would inevitably lead to a deterioration in their performance in the pursuit of their mission of excellence in healthcare, to the detriment of patients and the entire Quebec society.
Excerpt from the letter from six former prime ministers
Dubé is bringing some of the board members back
In light of these concerns, the Minister of Health presented amendments on Tuesday that would allow the administrative boards to be brought closer to the current administrative boards. He proposes delegating “the functions and powers” of the governing boards regarding “teaching, research and innovation” to the governing boards and not to Santé Québec.
The name “Establishment Boards” originally proposed in the bill will be replaced by “Establishment Boards of Directors” to reflect their new functions, it said. Files related to philanthropy would instead be entrusted to presidents and CEOs with support from a foundation associated with the institution.
“What Santé Québec will do is that it will delegate the whole question of research, the whole question of foundations, the whole question of innovation to the different entities, the CHUs, the CIUSSS, so that there is a delegation of powers,” assured Mr. Dube.
I want to be very, very clear here, because perhaps a lot will be said in the coming weeks, but one thing is clear: the children, they will continue to go to Sainte-Justine, the people will continue to go to the mate. There is no one who will lose their identity.
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health
At a press conference in Quebec, the minister explained that he had long believed in this compromise, while he wanted to find a way between coordinating the institutions and preserving their autonomy.
Christian Dubé continued to defend his decision to limit the powers of boards of directors by speaking of the need to put an end to leadership in silos. The creation of Santé Québec is intended to promote better cooperation between bodies and institutions. Conversely, boards of directors naturally have a duty to first protect their branch before considering collaboration with other companies.
With The Canadian Press