Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Outaouais health-care system is bracing for another wave of cutbacks as the Centre intégré
de santé et des services sociaux (CISSS) de l’Outaouais moves forward with eliminating 102
positions, including 25 managerial roles. The decision, described by officials as a necessary
response to budgetary pressures, has ignited a debate over the region’s long-standing health-
care funding challenges.

Dr. Marc Bilodeau, Director General of CISSS de l’Outaouais, defended the move as an
unfortunate but essential step to maintain financial stability while protecting core medical
services. He stressed that the cuts would not affect frontline health-care workers and that
employees facing job loss would receive assistance, including career counseling, retraining
programs, and opportunities for reassignment. “These are tough choices, but they are
necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our health-care services,” Bilodeau said. He
acknowledged the strain such measures would place on affected employees but maintained that
they were unavoidable given the financial realities.

The announcement, however, has been met with fierce opposition from health-care advocates
who argue that the cuts are not simply a cost-saving measure but a symptom of deeper,
systemic neglect. SOS Outaouais, a regional advocacy group, has criticized the government for
what it sees as a pattern of underfunding that has left hospitals overwhelmed and patients
waiting for care. “This is not about financial management; it’s about a government failing its
responsibility,” said Jean Pigeon, spokesperson for SOS Outaouais. “The Outaouais is
underfunded by $200 million annually and, instead of fixing this injustice, the government is
imposing an additional $90 million in cuts. Patients are paying the price.”

Concerns over the impact of these reductions extend beyond advocacy groups. André Fortin,
MNA for Pontiac and the Official Opposition Health Critic, has warned that the cuts will further
strain a system already operating beyond its limits. Emergency rooms in the region are among
the most overcrowded in the province, and surgical wait times continue to stretch well beyond
medically recommended delays. “The government is taking resources away from a region that is
already at a breaking point,” Fortin said. “No matter what assurances they give, these cuts will
hurt services, and patients will feel the consequences.”

CISSS de l’Outaouais insists that the adjustments have been carefully planned to minimize
disruption to health-care services, but many remain unconvinced. Critics argue that while
balancing the budget is important, it should not come at the expense of patient care. As the
region’s hospitals continue to face mounting pressure, calls for reinvestment in the health-care
system are only growing louder.

“The government’s excuses are over,” Pigeon said. “We will not stand by while our health-care
system collapses.”​

Photo: Dr. Marc Bilodeau, Director General of CISSS de l’Outaouais, defended the decision to
cut 102 positions as a necessary financial measure, but critics argue the move exacerbates
chronic underfunding and threatens health-care access in the region. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo