The Big Story Why are Quebec doctors trying to work in Ontario?
Nov 12, 2025
Dr. Trevor Hennessey, Chief of Anesthesiology at CISSS de l'Outaouais and a vocal opponent of Quebec's Bill 2, discusses the implications of the legislation on healthcare providers. He reveals how the bill's performance targets, which lack necessary resources, have led to widespread dismay among doctors. Hennessey shares his own resignation and the trend of physicians seeking opportunities in Ontario. He warns that the law risks future staffing shortages and raises concerns about the potential for privatization in Quebec's healthcare system.
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Targets Without Resources
- Bill 2 ties physician pay to targets and reduces specialists' fees immediately by about 15%.
- The law lacks any requirement that the government provide the resources needed to hit those targets.
Good Targets, Unreal Conditions
- Many targets (ER wait times, surgery timelines) are clinically reasonable but unattainable given current staffing and bed shortages.
- Physicians can't meet legal performance metrics when operating rooms and technicians are unavailable.
Gatineau's Staffing Collapse
- Gatineau region suffers chronic underfunding at roughly 80% of Quebec's average, worsening infrastructure and staffing.
- The region lost its only vascular surgeon and most plastic surgeons because they couldn't provide timely care.