Hearings begin on Quebec bill that would force new doctors to practice in public sector

Consultations on Bill 83, aimed at curbing the exodus of doctors to the private sector, began on Thursday at the Quebec legislature.

Bill 83, tabled on Dec. 3 by Health Minister Christian Dubé, would require new doctors trained at Quebec universities to spend the first five years of their practice in the public sector.

Since 2020, around 800 of Quebec’s 22,000 doctors have opted to go into private practice, Dubé pointed out at a news scrum on Thursday.

He also pointed out that no fewer than 2,300 doctors trained in Quebec are currently practising in Ontario. Conversely, only 500 doctors from Ontario are practising in Quebec, he said.

• Read more: Clinics and unions say Quebec’s plan to keep physicians in public health sector isn’t enough

“It’s clear that something isn’t working,” said the minister, who promised to listen carefully during the two-day consultations.

“I want to hear what people have to say,” he added. “We are putting something on the table, but it needs to be improved.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 6, 2025.