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Longueuil – In the lead-up to the next Québec budget and as part of its 2026 Agenda campaign A strong public system: what if we dared to do it?, the APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) has announced the campaign’s second theme this year: Make our health and well-being a priority: what if we dared to do it? The union’s key proposal is to set up a budgetary shield that would provide stable, sufficient, and predictable funding for the public health and social services system.

For more than 30 years, Québec has been adopting some of Canada’s most restrictive budgetary laws on matters such as balancing the budget and reducing government debt. As a result, while Quebecers’ needs continue to grow, the public health and social services system is regularly faced with budget cuts that undermine access to services and the quality and continuity of care.

“We’re constantly asking the system to do more with less,” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “In 2025-2026, again, the funding that was allotted didn’t even cover evolving needs. This is not about how things are structured – the issue here is political priorities.”

In February, let’s make health care into a non-negotiable priority

The APTS noted that Québec is currently going through its third period of budget austerity in 30 years, one that is presented as acting “responsibly” in managing public finances. Once again this year, public system employees will have to respond to Quebecers’ growing needs without appropriate funding from the finance ministry.

For the 2025-2026 budget alone, the APTS found a $1.1 billion gap between funding currently allocated to the system and the amounts it would actually need to mitigate the impact of demographic growth, an aging population, inflation, and changing clinical practices. Underfunding directly results in fragile services, longer waiting lists, and rising pressure on employees.

Faced with this situation, the APTS is arguing for the creation of a budgetary shield, that is, a legal framework forcing the government to fund health and social services at a level that meets Quebecers’ real needs. In concrete terms, the budgetary shield requires three elements:

·       The budgetary impact of evolving needs is assessed on a yearly basis, taking into consideration demographic changes, changes in clinical practices, and projected inflation.

·       The assessment is carried out by an independent agency such as the Auditor General.

·       The finance ministry is then required to provide the health and social services system with the funding that has been found to be necessary.

“Establishing a budgetary shield would send a clear message that in Québec, people’s health and well-being are not adjustment levers,” said APTS first vice-president Émilie Charbonneau. “These are absolute priorities that must be protected against budget austerity cycles.”

What if we dared to do it?

The APTS argues that it is time to reject the false choice between budget discipline and quality services. Québec has been willing for decades to adopt strict rules about deficits and debt. It’s now time to be equally disciplined about protecting access to care and services.

“Daring to do it means acknowledging that Quebecers’ health and well-being deserve at least the same level of protection as financial imperatives. Setting up a budgetary shield is a clear, responsible, and necessary political choice,” said Robert Comeau.

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.