Transplant Québec jobs will be secure during merger with Héma-Québec

New data shows the list of people waiting for an organ donation in Quebec has decreased, thanks to a 17 per cent increase in the number of people who received a transplant and a record number of donors in 2023. A liver is prepared for transport after it has been removed from an organ donor June 15, 2023, in Jackson, Tenn. (Mark Humphrey/The Associated Press)

Transplant Québec and Héma-Québec are entering into discussions to ensure that the merger of the two organizations -- provided for in Bill 7 -- will have no impact on the organ donation process. The jobs of Transplant Québec staff will be secure throughout the transfer process.

In a news release issued on Monday, Héma-Québec assured that in all the merger models explored, “staff jobs will be secure, as their expertise is highly recognized.”

During special consultations on Bill 7, An Act to reduce bureaucracy, increase government efficiency, and strengthen the accountability of senior public servants, Transplant Québec warned that the merger could weaken the organ donation process, putting hundreds of lives at risk each year.

Héma-Québec said it wanted to retain the expertise of Transplant Québec, which has 55 years of experience in the field of organ donation. The Crown corporation had indicated that it was evaluating the possibility of integrating Transplant Québec as a subsidiary, “which would not result in any short-term changes to the organization’s operations and management,” according to Héma-Québec.

It is so far unclear whether the subsidiary model will be adopted. The two organizations will begin discussions in the coming weeks to determine the collaboration model that best suits them.

Patient groups and health-care network stakeholders involved in organ donation and transplantation will be consulted as part of this process. At the end of the process, recommendations will be submitted to the Quebec government to guide the next steps.

According to Bill 7, introduced by Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau, funding for Transplant Québec is to end on April 1, 2026.

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