Québec Prepares to Implement Notwithstanding Clause to Compel Doctors to Practice in the Province
Quebec Premier François Legault states that his government is ready to utilize the notwithstanding clause to compel doctors trained in Quebec to initiate their careers in the province’s public system.
The premier reveals that his government is exploring the possibility of mandating medical graduates from Quebec universities to repay the government for their education expenses unless they practice in the province for an unspecified duration.
These statements, made at a press conference in Quebec City today, further clarify Health Minister Christian Dubé’s announcement of introducing legislation that would require family doctors and specialists to commence their careers in Quebec’s public network.
Despite acknowledging that requesting doctors to repay if they opt to leave the province may infringe upon the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Legault deems it necessary due to the urgent need for doctors in the province.
The notwithstanding clause is a provision in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that enables federal, provincial, and territorial governments to enact laws that supersede certain Charter rights for up to five years.
The Quebec government reveals that the training of a doctor, including residency, costs between $435,000 and $790,000, and that 400 out of the 2,536 doctors who completed their studies between 2015 and 2017 departed the province.
Related Stories
