Claude Castonguay says Liberal Yves Bolduc should resign

Claude Castonguay (left), former liberal minister and creator of Quebec universal health care, poses with Quebec's Premier Philippe Couillard after receiving the rank of Grand Officer in the Ordre National du Quebec, Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mathieu Belanger

A widely-respected former Quebec health minister has joined the attack on former Liberal health minister Yves Bolduc.

Fellow former Liberal health minister Claude Castonguay says that Dr. Yves Bolduc should resign for accepting a $215,000 bonus he received for taking on 1,500 medical patients while in opposition.

Bolduc, who served as health minister in the Charest government, was within his rights to collect the bonus but he has been slammed by the opposition PQ and other critics nonetheless.

Bolduc returned to practicing medicine after the Liberal defeat of 2012 and took on 1,500 Quebec City patients in need of a family doctor.

“It should be asked whether it’s acceptable for an MNA with a full slate of duties to accumulate 1,500 patients, take the maximum pay and then give the minimum in return. He took on two full-time jobs. It’s unacceptable behaviour, especially for a member of a government that’s asking everybody to tighten their belts,” said Castonguay in a TV interview Monday morning with the TVA network.

He also published an open letter to the same effect, in French in the La Presse newspaper.

Castonguay, now 85, remains revered by many for his role for bringing Medicare to Quebec during his years as health minister in the Bourassa government from 1970-1973. Three weeks ago he was honoured at the National Assembly by Premier Couillard who named him to the rank of Grand Officer in the Ordre National du Quebec.

“Bolduc knew the system well. Being a MNA is a demanding, full-time job. Taking care of 1,500 patients is a very demanding job. What I see is that he was unable to offer acceptable service as MNA and doctor,” said Castonguay.

The bonus was part of a $50 million, two-year program Bolduc himself created while health minister in order to encourage doctors to take on more patients.

Bolduc retained his job as MNA for Jean Talon while taking on the patients, earning an estimated $450,000 annually during that time.

He now serves in cabinet as minister for education, leisure and sport, higher education, research and science.

Bolduc put the patients to the waiting list since returning to government.

Premier Couillard and current Health Minister Gaetan Barrette have stood by their colleague.