Over 250 doctors from Quebec have submitted applications to practice in Ontario, as reported by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. This influx of applications follows the passing of a contentious bill on Oct. 25 in Quebec, reforming doctors’ pay structures.
Within just a little over two weeks, the CPSO received more than 13 times the usual number of applicants compared to the period between June 1 and Oct. 22 this year. Specifically, as of Monday morning, 263 Quebec doctors had sought licensing in Ontario since Oct. 23, with 35 of them already granted certificates by the CPSO.
The majority of these applicants are family physicians, with the remaining spread across various specialties such as general practice, pediatrics, radiology, and anesthesiology, according to the CPSO. Quebec’s Bill 2, scheduled to come into effect in the upcoming year, ties doctors’ remuneration to performance targets related to patient care numbers. It also imposes hefty fines of up to $500,000 per day on doctors engaging in “concerted action” against government policies.
The CPSO noted that the doctors did not provide reasons for their applications and cautioned that not all applications would be approved, as some may be withdrawn or canceled.
Dr. Trevor Hennessey, chief of the anesthesiology department at the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre in the Outaouais Region, recently resigned and is contemplating a move to Ontario, where he is already certified to practice. Hennessey expressed frustration over years of advocating for better healthcare resources and staff, citing Bill 2 as the tipping point.
He criticized the legislation, stating that doctors lack control over essential elements required to meet the bill’s patient targets, such as emergency room equipment, nursing staff, and medical technicians, all of which are under government control. Hennessey highlighted concerns over the potential restrictions on communication imposed by the law and expressed that Ontario, despite its own staffing challenges, allows for more open dialogue among colleagues.
The Ontario Medical Association voiced support for their Quebec counterparts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between governments and doctors to ensure optimal patient care without destabilizing healthcare systems in other provinces.
Following the introduction of Bill 2, federations representing Quebec’s general practitioners, specialists, and medical students initiated legal challenges. Premier François Legault’s office affirmed their commitment to the reforms, aiming to enhance patient access to family doctors. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé refrained from commenting on individual doctors’ decisions but acknowledged their worries about impending practice and compensation alterations, emphasizing the importance of retaining all doctors in Quebec.
Despite the ongoing challenges and uncertainties, the healthcare landscape in Quebec and Ontario continues to evolve as medical professionals navigate the implications of the recent legislative changes.
