Against all odds, members of the National Assembly succeeded on Friday in passing the sweeping Bill 23, which relaxes the criteria for forcibly hospitalizing a person in crisis. “I won’t hide the fact that the road hasn’t been easy. The last few days—and even the last few hours—have been particularly intense,” said Health Minister Sonia Bélanger in her closing remarks. “We were reaching the end of the legislative session with limited time and a great deal of work to be done. “Today, I am grateful that we chose to persevere ... If this reform allows us to intervene earlier and prevent even just some tragedies, then we will have done our part,” she added. Expanded criteria for dangerousness Bill 23—which was introduced on March 24—is a comprehensive overhaul of Act P-38, the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state poses a danger to themselves or to others, passed more than 25 years ago. It comes in the wake of the murder of police officer Maureen Breau, who was killed by an individual in crisis whose aggressive behavior had been reported by family members. Currently, authorities can only involuntarily hospitalize a person if they pose a “serious and immediate” danger. Bill 23 expands this criterion to a “situation where there is a danger.” For example, a man with schizophrenia whose condition is reported to be deteriorating, but who does not necessarily pose an immediate danger, may be transported against his will to a hospital. Cases go to Administrative Tribunal Cases of involuntary hospitalization will no longer go before a judicial court but before the Quebec Administrative Tribunal. Another new measure is the option to complete an advanced psychiatric directive specifying one’s wishes in the event of severe mental distress. Quebec promises to allocate additional resources to better support these vulnerable individuals, including upon their release from the hospital, and to improve information sharing among healthcare providers. In the budget he presented in March, Finance Minister Eric Girard allocated $104.4 million over five years to modernize P-38 and enable the implementation of various measures. “The increase in services we’ll be implementing in parallel will ensure that, when police officers arrive on the scene, they’ll be accompanied by psychosocial workers,” explained Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant on Friday. “This support will mean that situations can be managed on the spot, and we won’t always need to take them to the ER. So, this will reduce the number of P-38s,” he argued. Québec solidaire votes against During the consultations, however, certain groups—particularly rights advocates—expressed concern that this would lead to an increase in involuntary hospitalizations in Quebec, along with the potential abuses that could result. On Friday, Québec solidaire MNA Andrés Fontecilla lamented the “hasty” adoption of Bill 23 and announced that his party would vote against it. “The government has decided to move too quickly ... Four days of review ... this is not a favorable context for in-depth deliberation,” he said. Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass and PQ MNA Joël Arseneau agreed that although imperfect, the overhaul of P-38 was, under the circumstances, necessary. “We are dealing with a sensitive bill that affects fundamental rights and provides for exceptional measures. These measures, it must be reiterated, must remain exceptional,” Arseneau said on Friday. “Seventy-four sections, 47 amendments that modify seven laws in less than five days. We did it because we believed. We did it on behalf of families, individuals, and humanity,” Prass said. To allay certain concerns, Minister Bélanger agreed to include in the law a provision requiring it to be reviewed in five years. Outraged advocacy groups, relieved families In a press release issued Friday afternoon, a dozen community organizations denounced the rapid passage of Bill 23. Among them are the Regroupement des ressources alternatives en santé mentale du Québec (RRASMQ), the Ligue des droits et libertés, and the Association des groupes d’intervention en santé mentale du Québec (AGIDD-SMQ). “Several fundamental issues highlighted in the bill have not been addressed at all, while the reform constitutes a major setback for fundamental rights,” they stated. These organizations argue that Quebec should have prioritized “consent-based approaches,” the “development of the therapeutic relationship,” and made “structural investments” in prevention. In contrast, CAP Mental Health—which brings together 55 associations of families and loved ones—wished on Friday to “warmly” thank elected officials for passing this “crucial” bill for the future. “This is a major step forward in addressing the distress families face on a daily basis, and the new law will help prevent human tragedies,” said its executive director, René Cloutier. The Coalition of Partners for an Integrated and Coordinated Approach Toward a Humane and Modern Forensic Medical System in Quebec also reacted positively to the bill’s passage. The group includes, among others, the Association of Psychiatrists of Quebec (AMPQ) and the Association of Police Chiefs of Quebec (ADPQ). “When illness impairs a person’s ability to recognize their need for care, intervening quickly ... can prevent tragedies, the loss of hard-won progress, and promote a return to recovery,” the group stated in a press release. The partners in the Concertation also say they are offering their full cooperation to the government to support it in implementing the law. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 12, 2026. Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
