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Longueuil – With the election of a Parti Québécois government, the APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) calls on the next premier to commit to making decentralizing and strengthening the public health and social services system a priority, and to repeal the discriminatory and anti-union laws passed under the CAQ.

“Public services are facing a systemic crisis, fuelled by decades of underfunding, centralization and privatization,” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “We can still change course. To get the public system back on its feet, the new government needs to rely on the expertise of the people who work in the public system.”

Choose the public system

Over the past few months, the APTS made 9 proposals to offer Quebecers accessible, high-quality care and services, focused on prevention, in every region of the province.

The union encourages the new government to draw inspiration from this roadmap at the outset of its mandate and to work with the unions that represent the voice of the people on the ground to develop the public system Quebecers so urgently need.

“The professionals and technicians who are APTS members are determined to protect our system against any new wave of austerity,” said APTS first vice-president Émilie Charbonneau. “The system’s problems aren’t inevitable; they’re a matter of political will. The new government can turn things around if they choose the public system.”

End discriminatory, anti-union laws

On its way out the door, the Legault government adopted a number of laws that hollowed out freedom of association and the protection of workers by threatening the right to strike, union democracy, and mechanisms for participation and prevention in occupational health and safety. The APTS calls on the new government to repeal these legislative provisions once the National Assembly is back in session in order to strengthen these fundamental rights, in keeping with the positions the PQ caucus took when the laws were passed.

A mandate with limits

Given the minority mandate from voters, the APTS encourages the PQ government to govern in a spirit of openness and consultation.

“A minority government needs to work toward policies that bring people together and benefit everyone,” said the APTS president. “The challenges facing Québec require public policies developed in collaboration with unions, community groups and other civil society actors. Now is the time for a social dialogue to strengthen our public services and meet the needs of Quebecers.”

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.