An escalating labor dispute in Quebec may benefit New Brunswick’s physician recruitment endeavors. The François Legault administration has been in conflict with doctors regarding compensation and recently faced backlash for passing a bill in the Quebec National Assembly against doctors’ wishes.
With tensions rising, Quebec physicians are showing increased interest in New Brunswick. The New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons usually receives three to four license applications from Quebec monthly, but in October, this number saw a significant surge.
In response to the situation, 40 doctors have applied to practice in New Brunswick this month. The Vitalité Health Network has also noticed a rise in informal expressions of interest from doctors considering employment with the Francophone health authority.
Dr. Lise Babin, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, described the impact of Quebec’s government approach as creating a divide, calling the situation in Quebec alarming and untenable for colleagues due to the passage of Bill 2.
Vitalité confirmed running an advertising campaign targeting Quebec doctors attending a medical conference in Montreal this week. Premier Susan Holt expressed that amid the conflict, it is fair to recruit Quebec doctors to address physician shortages faced by provinces nationwide.
Health Minister John Dornan highlighted positive negotiations in New Brunswick for a remuneration agreement with physicians, contrasting the situation in Quebec. He acknowledged the potential recruitment of doctors from Quebec to New Brunswick, emphasizing the province’s bilingual nature as an attractive option for physicians considering relocation.