Health Minister Christian Dubé has been in Abitibi-Témiscamingue since the beginning of the week. He has visited most of the major hospitals in the region. Mr. Dubé says he wants to thank the employees for the work that was done during the summer period.
Christian Dubé believes that the goodwill of all has helped avoid service disruptions in the region. According to him, the new flying team from the Ministry of Health has notably helped to lend a helping hand.
Why were we able to reduce service disruptions? There were almost none because we managed to find people to come and help them. The flying teams are one way, but there were also a lot of service loans that came from other regions. That’s what Santé Québec brings: the CISSS-AT doesn’t feel alone, says Mr. Dubé.
He believes that the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre of Abitibi-Témiscamingue is on the right track to eliminate the use of independent labour by 2026.
He cites as an example the fact that the organization has gone from 600 to 400 private sector employees over the past year.
Open in full screen mode
Christian Dubé visited the Val-d’Or hospital. (Archive photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada / Marc-André Landry
Christian Dubé believes that the flying team will grow in the coming year so that professionals from outside can come and lend a hand without going through employment agencies. However, he believes that such a team is a temporary solution and that the goal is for people to settle in the region for good.
There are people who tell me: ”As long as the collective agreements are not signed, including that of the FIQ, I do not want to lose my seniority, but I am ready to go there on a service loan.” A nurse from Lanaudière will therefore be in Abitibi for a few months on a service loan. ”I am not changing my employer, but if I like it, when you have settled your agreements and you guarantee my seniority, I will be able to settle there,” illustrates the minister, who believes that service loans greatly help our region at the moment.
The Minister of Health also met with various unions during his visit. The president of the Interprofessional Health Care Union of Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FIQ-SISSAT), Jean-Sébastien Blais, was satisfied with his meeting. He believes that the minister understands the reality of the region, but that financial resources are not always sufficient.
I think it’s a question of money. I think that a citizen of Abitibi-Témiscamingue may be of less value to the Quebec government than a citizen of another region, and yet we know that our GDP is very good, so we contribute enough and we should be entitled to the same services, says Mr. Blais.
Christian Dubé believes that the latest collective agreement signed in particular with the CSN and the APTS allows employees working in the region to obtain additional bonuses, which have been demanded for several years by the unions.
Open in full screen mode
The minister also took advantage of his tour to visit the Senneterre Health Center. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Mélanie Picard
However, such an agreement has not been signed with the FIQ, which still does not have a work contract with the government. Mr. Blais believes that everyone is losing out at the moment and that it is time for an agreement to be reached between the two parties. He promises a spicy fall.
To wean itself off independent labour, it will need us, he explains.
Christian Dubé believes that one of the advantages of the region at the moment is that specializations have been separated in the different hospitals and he believes that this way of doing things must be maintained.
