Economic update: nothing for the health crisis
Minister Girard foresees a 7.6% decline in health and social services spending next year. “Where will the government get the money for its health plan? For the new staff it wants to hire? Unfortunately, we do not see the answers in this update,” deplored Julie Bouchard, FIQ President.
“Nothing is set out in the budget update to resolve the crisis in our health and social services institutions. And yet, we are currently witnessing major service cuts, care rationing, unit closures, non-replacements, interminable wait times… Not to mention healthcare professionals’ exhaustion and distress and the proliferation of mandatory overtime (MOT),” lamented Julie Bouchard.
Minister Girard is predicting that salaries in Quebec will increase by 3% to 3.5% in the coming years, when they went up by 10% over the last two years. “The public sector did receive the same increases over the last two years. We have said it before, healthcare professionals have huge expectations. They are demanding real, tangible recognition. We demand that Ms. Lebel’s offers be on par with the sacrifices of those who care for the population. The network will have to have the means required to become an employer of choice,” declared Ms. Bouchard.