Lucien Bouchard to represent doctors’ federation in negotiations with Quebec government

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, left, and former premier Lucien Bouchard attend an event launching commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rene Levesque in Montreal, Monday, June 13, 2022. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) appointed lawyer and former premier Lucien Bouchard to represent the organization in negotiations with the government, turning to arbitration in the hope of reaching an agreement.

In a press release, the FMSQ, which brings together the members of 36 medical associations, explained it had called on Bouchard because of his “credibility and in-depth knowledge of the political system,” which made him “the ideal person” to take charge of the case.

The Federation acknowledged that negotiations with the government, which it describes as “difficult,” are “not going well,” pointing to the recent introduction of Bill 106 by Health Minister Christian Dubé.

The bill presented last week - in the midst of negotiations to renew the framework agreement with the two medical federations - proposes, among other things, to link part of doctors’ remuneration to their collective performance.

At the time, the FMSQ strongly criticized the tabling of this piece of legislation, accusing the government of flouting its right to negotiate.

“Although our relationship of trust with the Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel is good, our relationship of trust with the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, has been seriously undermined by recent events, mainly because of his failure to listen,” the FMSQ said in a news release.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French May 15, 2025.