MNAs criticize clinics telling patients they might lose their doctors due to Bill 106
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube speaks at a legislature committee studying the remuneration oof doctors, at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)
Like Health Minister Christian Dubé, opposition parties on Wednesday condemned the decision by several clinics to send letters informing their patients that they risked losing their doctors if Bill 106 was passed.
'I find it borderline unethical,' Liberal health spokesperson André Fortin said at a news conference. 'This may be crossing the line. I don't know if this is the best way to convey their argument.'
In these letters, which The Canadian Press was able to review, clinics warn their patients that Bill 106, which aims to link doctors' pay to performance targets, will have 'major consequences' for them.
For example, the Fort Chambly clinic warns that 'several of [its] doctors are actively considering their future.'
'It is important for us to inform you of this, as these decisions could directly affect you,' the letter states.
'I don't like threats,' Minister Dubé commented briefly on Wednesday.
The day before, he had asked the College of Physicians to investigate whether this was a concerted action by the clinics, which the College agreed to do.
'Any disinformation tactic is reprehensible,' said Vincent Marissal of Québec Solidaire at a news conference. 'There are things in these letters that are not true ... These clinics must retract their statements, because they are scaring people.'
He deplores the fact that clinics have suggested that patients will lose their doctors if they are not in the same region.
'There will be grandfather clauses. If you already have a doctor in Laval but live in Ahuntsic, you will keep your doctor,' he said.
'Any exploitation of patients for political purposes ... is to be prohibited,' said Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Paradis.
Since it was tabled on May 8, Bill 106 has triggered outrage. The two medical federations, as well as the College of Physicians, have condemned the bill in a parliamentary committee, urging the government to do its homework again.
Doctors argue that by seeking to increase volume, the government will undermine the quality of care. They also deplore the imposition of performance targets when they have no control over factors like the availability of operating rooms.
After promising a doctor for every Quebecer, the Coalition Avenir Québec government now aims to have every person covered by a 'healthcare environment' by 2026.
Approximately 1.5 million Quebecers do not have a designated doctor or healthcare professional.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French May 28, 2025.
By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Globe and Mail
34 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Is Fortinet's FortiGuard AI Service Becoming a Key Growth Driver?
Fortinet 's FTNT FortiGuard AI-powered security services have been gaining traction as more enterprises turn to real-time, automated protection to secure users, data and infrastructure. These services, which include threat intelligence, intrusion prevention, data loss prevention (DLP), antivirus and web filtering, are powered by FortiGuard Labs' global sensor network and AI models. Strong adoption has been driving top-line growth. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, service revenues of $1.08 billion increased 14% year over year. Security subscriptions, including FortiGuard services, grew 16% year over year and remain a key driver of service growth. It made up 57.7% of Fortinet's service revenues in the first quarter. Services now make up more than 70% of Fortinet's total revenues, underscoring the importance of recurring, AI-powered solutions in its business model. Fortinet's continued focus on expanding FortiGuard's reach is visible in the launch of its AI-powered Workspace Security Suite. The suite protects key productivity platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace with AI-based phishing detection, impersonation defense, DLP and 24/7 incident response. These capabilities are fully backed by FortiGuard's intelligence and seamlessly integrate into Fortinet's broader Security Fabric to automate threat response and improve detection accuracy. Fortinet's AI services are a long-term growth driver. The company is deepening AI integration across its service portfolio and holds more than 500 AI-related patents. As demand grows for scalable, intelligence-led protection across hybrid and cloud environments, Fortinet expects its AI-enhanced services, such as FortiGuard, to contribute meaningfully to recurring, high-margin revenue growth. FTNT Faces Stiff Competition Fortinet's FortiGuard AI-powered services face growing competition from Palo Alto Networks PANW and Cisco Systems CSCO, both of which are expanding their AI security capabilities. Palo Alto Networks is expanding its AI security footprint with the acquisition of Protect AI, a leader in securing AI and ML applications. The move strengthens Palo Alto Networks' capabilities to defend against emerging threats like model manipulation and prompt injection. It reflects the company's push to lead in next-generation cybersecurity by addressing risks in the growing AI ecosystem. Meanwhile, Cisco Systems is boosting its AI security capabilities with updates to its XDR and Splunk platforms. It introduced agentic AI for faster threat detection and launched Foundation AI, featuring the first reasoning model for security. Cisco Systems also expanded its partnership with ServiceNow to support secure, scalable AI adoption. FTNT's Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates FTNT shares have risen 9.8% in the year-to-date (YTD) period, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 21.9%. FTNT has outperformed the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 1.3%. FTNT's YTD Price Performance From a valuation standpoint, Fortinet stock is currently trading at a Price/Book ratio of 40.88X compared with the industry's 24.58X. FTNT has a Value Score of F. FTNT Valuation Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at 59 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating 3.51% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for 2025 earnings is pegged at $2.48 per share, which has been revised upward by 2 cents over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates 4.64% year-over-year growth. Fortinet currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock It's only 1/9,000th the size of NVIDIA which skyrocketed more than +800% since we recommended it. NVIDIA is still strong, but our new top chip stock has much more room to boom. With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $803 billion by 2028. See This Stock Now for Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO): Free Stock Analysis Report Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT): Free Stock Analysis Report Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW): Free Stock Analysis Report


CBC
35 minutes ago
- CBC
National Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa defaced with 'feed me' graffiti
Social Sharing The Ottawa Police Service's hate and bias crime unit is investigating after the National Holocaust Monument was defaced with red paint, officers at the scene told CBC on Monday. The concrete memorial on the Kichi Zibi Mikan near Lebreton Flats was found splashed with red paint on Monday morning, including the words "feed me" painted in capital letters. Cleaning crews from the National Capital Commission, which manages the monument, were removing the paint with pressure washers. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a Jewish Zionist lobby group, called the graffiti vile and antisemitic. "Since October 7, Canada's Jewish community has been under siege — and too often, we're told this isn't about Jews, it's about Israel. But this? This doesn't feel like it's about Israel," CIJA's media director Nicole Amiel wrote in an email, referencing the 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. It is not known who defaced the monument or why, but the slogan appeared to be a reference to Gaza, which the United Nations on Friday described as the "hungriest place on Earth". Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told reporters in Geneva that Gaza is the only defined territory in the world where the entire population of two million people is at risk of famine. "The aid operation that we have ready to roll is being put in an operational straitjacket that makes it one of the most obstructed aid operations, not only in the world today, but in recent history," he said. The UN and its partners have "tens of thousands of pallets of food and other life-saving assistance" ready to enter Gaza, but only a "trickle" has been allowed to enter, Laerke said. "The aid has been paid for by the world's donors, who expect us on their behalf to deliver it. It is cleared for customs, it is approved and it's ready to move," he said. 'Disgusting and cowardly' Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi called the defacement of the Holocaust memorial "a disgraceful, antisemitic act of vandalism." In a post on social media, he wrote: "The National Holocaust Monument honours the memory of six million Jews and all victims of Nazi atrocities. Defacing it is not protest — it is hate, and I condemn it." Conservative co-deputy leader Melissa Lantsman called the defacement a "disgusting and cowardly act." Posting online, she wrote: "Parliament is just steps away — that's where dissent belongs. Defacing sacred ground in honour of the millions of victims of the Holocaust in the middle of the night with spray paint isn't protest, it's vandalism. Someone this pathetic deserves to be identified and held accountable."


National Post
38 minutes ago
- National Post
Elbows-up tourism surge could see sector ‘eke out' a gain even as Americans stay away
From the front desk of Hotel Bedford in Goderich, Ont., Lynda Cross welcomes guests from regions ranging from southern Ontario to the South Pacific. Article content 'A lot of them come from Toronto,' said the manager, standing just inside the Romanesque arches of the 129-year-old establishment. 'Just lately, we've had a few groups come from Australia' — a first, she said. Article content Article content But one crop of tourists has been conspicuously absent this year: Americans. Article content Article content 'May and June have been slow.' Article content Article content A groundswell of economic patriotism has stoked curiosity in Canadian destinations, fuelling a domestic bookings surge as travellers turn away from cross-border trips. But a drop in American visitors north of the border and fears that many Canadians will simply stay home to save money has many wondering whether homegrown and overseas tourism can make up for the stateside decline. Article content Canadian vacationers' boycotting the U.S. could net this country's tourism sector up to $8.8 billion in extra business this year as travellers explore spots closer to home, according to a report from the Conference Board of Canada. Article content An April survey on travel intentions prompted the group to predict a windfall despite fewer border crossings this year by American tourists — Canada's largest source of inbound travellers by far. Article content The number of Americans who visited Canada by car fell nearly 11 per cent in April compared with the same month last year, the third straight month of year-over-year decreases, according to Statistics Canada. Article content While trip numbers for Canadians heading to the U.S. have fallen off far more steeply as part of a backlash against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and '51st state' threats, Americans' more moderate pullback owes to factors ranging from pinched pocketbooks to fears of feeling unwelcome to angst over the border crossing on the drive home. Article content The American retreat could hit communities that hug the border especially hard. Article content Article content 'Border towns that have tended to experience the shorter, more frequent back-and-forth visits — those are going to be communities that are going to be more heavily affected,' said Andrew Siegwart, who heads the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.