Quebec government abolishes or merges a dozen government agencies with Bill 7

Quebec Treasury Board president France-Elaine Duranceau walks in a news conference after presenting new legislation at the legislature in Quebec City, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Quebec is preparing to abolish or merge a dozen government agencies.

On Wednesday, Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau introduced Bill 7, “An Act to reduce bureaucracy, increase government efficiency and strengthen the accountability of senior public servants.”

With this bill, Duranceau hopes to achieve savings of $35 million by cutting 220 full-time equivalents (FTEs), including about 100 in the health-care system.

For example, she proposes merging the Quebec public health institute (INSPQ) and the Quebec health and social services excellence institute (INESSS).

Three laboratories would be transferred to Santé Québec (infectious diseases, toxicology and screening). Héma-Québec would take over the organ donation and transplantation activities currently carried out by Transplant Québec.

In the areas of employment and the environment, the plan is to integrate the Parental Insurance Management Board into Retraite Québec. The Sustainable Development Commissioner would not have to report annually; they could do so every five years.

In addition, the bill aims to strengthen the accountability of senior officials.

Eighteen organizations, including Hydro-Québec, Investissement Québec and the Autorité des marchés financiers, will be added to those that must be heard once every four years by the Commission de l’administration publique (CAP).

After the SAAQclic fiasco, special attention is being paid to the auto insurance board (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec - SAAQ).

The government wants to appoint the vice-presidents of the SAAQ and set their remuneration. Currently, these senior officials are appointed by the board of directors of the Crown corporation.

In addition, individuals appointed for the first time as government administrators would be subject to a two-year “probationary period.”

“This is the first step. (...) Our shock treatment will continue. (...) I felt it was important to set the tone quickly,” said Duranceau at a news conference on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 5, 2025.