Quebec faces crisis as 4,000 care places cancelled due to financial struggles
Tashi Farmilo
In a recent press briefing, Linda Caron, the official opposition spokesperson for seniors, caregivers, and home care, highlighted the urgent issue of the cancellation of 4,000 places in intermediate resources (IR) in Quebec. She attributed this to the financial unviability of the 2020-2025 agreement governing these resources, exacerbated by unforeseen inflation since the end of the health crisis. "The inflation that has persisted since the end of the health crisis was not anticipated at the time of signing the agreement, but it is hitting the entire construction sector hard," Caron explained.
The lack of response to government tenders for new IR construction is a direct result of this financial strain, with financial institutions unwilling to finance projects due to high risks. Caron expressed concern about the immediate consequences, noting that "in the immediate term, due to a glaring lack of places, some CISSS/CIUSSS are concluding agreements to create places outside the framework of the agreement." She warned that this could lead to substandard care for residents in these new resources.
For existing IRs, Caron highlighted the challenges of increased food and wage costs since 2020, forcing some to cut corners, potentially affecting the quality of care for current residents. She also raised concerns about the long-term implications, stating that "it takes three years between the acceptance of a bid for the construction of an IR and the arrival of the first resident." The absence of bids in recent tenders means that there will be no new IR places available in the fall of 2026, with the potential for this issue to repeat in subsequent years.
In response to these challenges, Caron outlined the Quebec Liberal Party's approach to resolving the financial viability of IR agreements. The party proposes to recognize the financial unviability of the 2020-2025 agreement due to inflation and to sit down with the Association des ressources intermédiaires d’hébergement du Québec (ARIHQ) to evaluate potential adjustments. "The situation is serious, as some IRs risk taking the same path as private seniors' residences, which is the path to closure," Caron stated, emphasizing the need to avoid this outcome for the 18,550 vulnerable individuals relying on these services.
Addressing the broader healthcare system, André Fortin, the Liberal spokesperson for health, highlighted the need to increase the network's capacity to reduce waiting lists for specialist consultations. He pointed out that operating rooms are underutilized due to a lack of staff, impacting access to specialist consultations. Fortin proposed a "major catch-up" plan, including a blitz of diagnostic exams and a catch-up operation for surgeries, particularly in cancer and orthopedics. The plan also involves increasing health network capacity, concluding agreements with private clinics, and improving data transparency on cancer.
To address the workforce issue, Fortin suggested ending mandatory overtime, ensuring better working conditions for nurses, increasing enrollments in nursing and medicine, tripling the number of specialized nurse practitioners by 2030, and accelerating the recognition of foreign diplomas, among other measures.
Both Caron and Fortin emphasized the urgency of addressing the financial viability of intermediate resources and the need for comprehensive reforms to improve the healthcare system's capacity and reduce waiting times for specialist consultations and surgeries.
Photo caption: In Quebec, there is an urgent and pressing issue regarding the cancellation of 4,000 places in intermediate resources (IR), which has raised concerns among stakeholders.
Photo credit: Tashi Farmilo
