In a temporary reprieve for patients, several medical clinics in the Montreal region that had warned of imminent closure due to Quebec's proposed health-care reforms will remain operational—at least for now. The decision follows the provincial government's move to delay the implementation of Bill 2 until February 28, 2024, to allow for further negotiations.
A Temporary Pause, Not a Resolution
The initial version of Bill 2, championed by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government, proposed significant changes to how doctors are paid and worked. Dozens of clinics across Quebec declared the new rules would render them financially unsustainable, leading to announcements last fall that they would be forced to shut their doors in the spring of 2024. This threatened to leave hundreds of thousands of patients without access to a family doctor.
Facing intense public opposition and pushback from medical federations, the government backtracked on several measures. The original January 1, 2024, start date was pushed back, and a new provisional agreement was reached with the province's family doctors' federation in mid-December. However, specialists have yet to sign a deal, and many details remain unresolved.
Medical professionals have described the current situation as "promising, but scary" due to the lack of finalized terms. The former health minister, Christian Dubé, who drafted the bill, resigned from the CAQ caucus on December 18, 2023, criticizing the new deal for maintaining the status quo and failing to modernize the system.
Clinics in Limbo: Relief Mixed with Anxiety
The GMF Hudson Medicentre, the sole clinic serving Hudson and the surrounding area with 11,000 patients, is among those suspending closure plans. It had stated three of its seven doctors were leaving Quebec because of Bill 2. In a recent statement, the clinic confirmed the temporary halt but emphasized that "significant uncertainty remains." One doctor is still departing for Prince Edward Island, and the futures of the others are undecided.
The clinic's management stated the pause offers relief but "does not resolve the fundamental issues." They expressed concern that the process may ultimately return to an unstable status quo that fails to improve patient access to primary care.
Other clinics are also navigating the uncertainty. The Tiny Tots pediatric clinic at Décarie Square, which closed on December 31, 2023, has now reopened in a different office within the same building. Manager Oren Sebag said they are operating with six physicians and are "cautiously optimistic" but ready to adjust their model based on the final law.
Ongoing Concerns and the Path Forward
Not all clinics are out of danger. LaSalle’s Centre Médical pour Enfants, a pediatric clinic serving 5,000 patients, still indicates on its website it will close this spring. Dr. Rachel Tessier, the sole remaining owner, explained in November that provisions in Bill 2 could cut her income by an estimated 60%, making the clinic financially impossible to run. The clinic's lease was not renewed.
At District Médical, Montreal's largest family medicine clinic, medical director George Zaarour told the CBC the delay has "calmed things down," allowing doctors to refocus on patients. Similarly, Michael Kalin of Santé Kildare in Côte-St-Luc said the situation is "better than it was" but uncertainty persists.
The CAQ government initially argued Bill 2 was necessary to provide care for the roughly 1.5 million Quebecers without a family doctor. However, doctors contended it would cut pay and patient time, leading hundreds to apply for jobs in other provinces. Public polls showed majority opposition, forcing the government to renegotiate.
As negotiations continue toward the February 28 deadline, the immediate crisis has been deferred. Yet, for Montreal-area clinics and the patients who depend on them, the long-term prognosis for a stable, accessible healthcare system remains unclear.
