Quebec higher education minister accuses medical specialists of taking students ‘hostage’

Specialists have halted teaching duties in a dispute over Bill 106, leaving students without hospital training and uncertain about their graduation timelines.

Quebec Higher Education Minister Martine Biron says she is “deeply shocked” by the pressure tactics used by medical specialists, and is urging them to stop taking students “hostage.”

“Internships are being cancelled. Courses have had to be redone. It’s all a house of cards. It can’t go on. Specialist doctors need to get back to working with students. They are mentors to these students,” she said during a press scrum on Thursday at the National Assembly.

The specialists say they are opposed to Bill 106, which aims to link part of their remuneration to performance indicators, and have stopped teaching their courses in protest.

Biron said she fears that these pressure tactics could jeopardize the students’ graduation.

“To apply for a residency, you have to have completed all your courses and internships. So, students who haven’t done their internships will have a hard time applying for residency. This is hindering their progress and their ability to graduate on time. It’s an extremely tight curriculum,” she explained.

Health Minister Christian Dubé has agreed to compromise by reducing the portion of their remuneration linked to performance from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.

The minister met with the two doctors’ federations in recent days and assured that “significant progress” was made.

“The ball is in the federations’ court. (...) I invite the federations to come to the negotiating table in the coming weeks,” said Dubé.

The government is set to release its third proposal to doctors on Friday.

On Tuesday, the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners (FMOQ) called on its members to stop participating in medical-administrative activities that do not directly impact patients.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Sept. 18, 2025.