News

Longueuil – The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) demands that the government take immediate action to ensure the safety and dignity of people living in Le Dufresne intermediary residence, a private institution under agreement in Laval.

According to information provided by APTS members working in the home support team of the CISSS de Laval, the situation is critical. For months, these professionals have been reporting cases of abuse, erratic care delivery, a marked lack of hygiene, missed meals, episodes of severe dehydration, and suffocating heat in residents’ rooms, without appropriate measures to address these issues.

“We're talking about vulnerable people whose health is being compromised day after day,” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “How can we accept the fact that in 2025, residents are washed with pillowcases, are hungry, or struggle with heat stress? This is a severe breach of our obligation to protect people. Because the situation is unbearable, we have directly informed the cabinet of Minister Carmant, and we are working closely with political staff to accelerate the investigation process.” 

The investigation was announced at a meeting in May, with Santé Québec giving mandates to external resources, but deadlines have regularly been postponed – first to mid-June, then to September, and now to October. Meanwhile, conditions on the ground continue to get worse.

Natacha Pelchat, APTS provincial representative for Laval, is sharply critical of a lack of transparency: “Our members are on site and see what’s actually happening every day. But their findings are never taken seriously. They're told there's no danger involved in the situation, even though residents are experiencing heat stress and service users are developing mycosis of the feet because of a lack of basic hygiene. In some cases, our members are even subjected to bullying when problems are reported to certain managers.” 

The APTS is urging Santé Québec to act at once to restore a safe environment at Le Dufresne residence, and to make sure that the people in charge of the investigation finally meet the employees of the CISSS de Laval who are assigned to this work setting.

“We will never accept the normalization of serious failings such as these,” said Robert Comeau. “Vulnerable people are too often overlooked when they should be at the heart of our concerns. The government must live up to its commitments to ensure that people receive respectful care, and to protect whistleblowers.”

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) represents more than 68,000 members who play a key role in ensuring that health and social services institutions run smoothly. Our members provide a wide range of services for all Quebecers, including diagnostic, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support, and prevention services.