Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal, the party’s health spokesperson, issued a stark
warning about the state of the healthcare system in the Outaouais region during a recent visit.
Accompanied by local advocacy groups, including Action-Santé Outaouais and the regional
union representing health and social service workers, Marissal criticized what he described as
the CAQ government’s austerity policies and its growing reliance on private-sector involvement
in public healthcare.

“Every conversation I have with patients and healthcare workers tells the same story: frustration
and disappointment with a government that appears to be abandoning the public health
system,” Marissal said. “Austerity measures, budget cuts, privatization, and neglect of regional
needs have left the healthcare network weakened, with patients suffering the consequences.”

Local organizations joined Marissal in condemning the government’s approach, arguing that it
has eroded the quality and accessibility of public health services in the region. Jean Pigeon,
spokesperson for SOS Outaouais, noted that the visit offered a rare chance to draw attention to
the impact of budget reductions and private-sector pressures on local healthcare. Pigeon
expressed hope that Marissal’s visit would encourage the National Assembly to recognize
Outaouais’s specific challenges and take meaningful action.

Mathieu Charbonneau, director of Action-Santé Outaouais, criticized the government’s strategy
of centralization and privatization, contending that it has reduced the voices of healthcare
workers and community members in decision-making while diverting public resources to private
interests. He called for a shift in policy to prioritize the right of Outaouais residents to accessible,
quality healthcare.

Alain Smolynecky, president of the regional health workers’ union, noted that, despite
government statements about improving workforce stability, recent budget cuts and hiring
freezes have undermined those goals. Smolynecky questioned whether the government is
genuinely committed to supporting a truly public healthcare system.

Guylaine Laroche, head of APTS Outaouais, warned that ongoing austerity measures, including
unfilled vacancies and hiring freezes, would only lead to heavier workloads and reduced time for
direct patient care, which she argued would undoubtedly affect service quality.

Caroline Dufour, a doctoral candidate in nursing at the Université du Québec en Outaouais,
added that unless the government improves working conditions, retaining nurses in the region
will remain a challenge. She highlighted long-standing issues, such as the demand for
manageable nurse-to-patient ratios, the elimination of mandatory overtime, and greater control
over scheduling, which have yet to be addressed.​

Marissal, pledging to bring these concerns to the National Assembly, continued his visit by
meeting with local patients and healthcare workers. He plans to extend his healthcare tour to
other regions across Quebec in the coming weeks.

Photo: Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal, voiced urgent concerns over healthcare cuts
and privatization, warning they are deepening the crisis in the region’s public health system.
(TF) Photo: courtesy of Vincent Marissal Facebook page