Nurses’ union deplores Christian Dubé portraying them as ‘substitutes for doctors’

A nurse walks past a vacant room in the emergency ward at The Montreal Children's Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi, The Canadian Press)

The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) says it is surprised to hear Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé presenting specialized nurse practitioners (IPS) as the solution to problems with his special law on doctor remuneration, given that Quebec recently diminished its specialized nursing staff targets.

The union points out that because of these reductions, some graduating specialized nurse practitioners have had trouble finding work.

The FIQ states that some of the regions facing the biggest hurdles are the Montérégie and Montreal, where several IPSs with degrees in mental health have yet to find jobs.

The union argues there is a contradiction between the minister’s words and his actions.

“The government is concluding negotiations with doctors and passing Bill 2, but on the other hand, yesterday Christian Dubé began his speech by saying that IPSs will be there to provide frontline care to clients,” said Jérôme Rousseau, vice-president of work organization, professional practice and negotiations at the FIQ.

He notes that at the start of the school year, some IPSs learned that they would be finishing their courses, but no jobs would be waiting for them at the end.

The FIQ adds that it is pleased with Dubé for recognizing the importance of IPSs, also known as “super nurses,” but the federation points out that they are not “substitutes for doctors” and they have their own expertise.

Minister Dubé ‘improvising’

“Beyond the law itself, which is likely to have an impact on the health care system, given the reaction of the medical community, what has concerned us most in recent hours are the statements made by Minister Christian Dubé, with the omnipresence of the IPS solution in his speech. It gives the impression that he is improvising,“ said Rousseau.

In a press release, FIQ President Julie Bouchard emphasized that specialized nurse practitioners ”are not there to fill temporary gaps“ and that ”their expertise must be respected."

Rousseau maintains that the super nurses, who can make diagnoses, prescribe treatments and provide medical follow-up, do work that complements doctors, particularly on the front lines, but they also have other roles, such as in mental health.

The expanded role of nurses is the future of the health care system, according to the vice-president.

“The future in Quebec is collective care. We need to ensure that the professionals who receive patients, particularly IPSs and physicians, work closely together so that they can then refer patients to the right services and the right specialized resources,” he said.

Rousseau said he hopes the Health Ministry will be open “to have frank discussions about the role of IPSs,” adding that the FIQ has “been raising its hand for a long time” to collaborate with the minister and “make the role of IPSs even more effective.”

“If Minister Dubé truly has this desire in his speech, the FIQ will be there, and we believe we share the same goal,” he said.

The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 28, 2025.