Council of Mayors Supports Sunday Demonstration at the Shawville Hospital

Council of Mayors Supports Sunday Demonstration at the Shawville Hospital

At its first public meeting since the November 2 election, the Council of Mayors of the MRC Pontiac made a strong statement by calling for the repeal of Bill 2, which it says is necessary “to protect access to health care in the region.” The Council expressed deep concern over the adoption of Bill 2, warning that it could worsen the already severe health-care crisis in the Outaouais. According to the MRC Pontiac, the region has been chronically underfunded for many years and now faces a significant lag in the development of its health infrastructure and services — a situation that is especially critical for Pontiac residents.

“The region’s proximity to Ontario intensifies the shortage of physicians, with many professionals considering early retirement or seeking licences to practise elsewhere. Already, a large number of residents do not have a family doctor and cannot afford further cuts to essential services. The state of the health-care network in Pontiac is critical. Our citizens deserve fair access to quality care, and we cannot accept measures that risk deepening the shortage of services. It is essential to protect our hospital, our CLSCs and our local services,” said Jane Toller, Warden of the MRC Pontiac.

The Council also emphasized that the realities of rural practice require physicians to take on multiple responsibilities — palliative care, emergency services, hospitalization and family practice — making the quota system imposed by Bill 2 especially punitive for them and for specialized nurse practitioners. As a result, the Council is formally calling on Premier François Legault and Health Minister Christian Dubé to repeal Bill 2, arguing that it would cause major harm to the local health-care system and jeopardize the safety and well-being of the population.

Citizen Mobilization

The MRC Pontiac is also inviting residents to sign the petition available at its offices and at municipal offices. The deadline to sign is December 5. In addition, a demonstration organized by Voix du Pontiac will be held on Sunday, November 30, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville. “Community participation is strongly encouraged,” said Jane Toller, who has made no secret of her disdain for this bill proposed by the CAQ government.