QUEBEC CITY — The Quebec government could invoke closure as early as Friday in order to pass its controversial Bill 10.
Health Minister Gaétan Barrette argued Tuesday the Parti Québécois opposition is purposefully blocking the bill, one of the pillars of his healthcare reform.
Bill 10 would see the administration of more than 100 health and social services centres in the province merged into 33 mega structures.
Critics say that streamlining bureaucracy would mean hundreds of managers will lose their jobs and anglophones argue the vitality of their institutions is at stake.
READ MORE: Social media used to highlight ‘side effects’ of Quebec’s Bill 10
After 75 hours of debate, MNAs have only gone through about 16 per cent of the bill.
“It is not my responsibility to invoke closure,” Barrette told reporters.
“It’s a decision that can be made only by the leader and the Premier.”
What is closure?
Closure is an exceptional parliamentary procedure to fast track the adoption of a bill. The last time it was used was by the PQ in December 2013 to shut down the debate on mines.
“It is perfectly anti-democratic,” said Québec Solidaire spokesperson Françoise David.
The Coalition Avenir Quebec suggested the Liberals may push the bill through to balance their books and make room for Bill 20, another controversial piece of legislation forcing doctors to meet a patient quota or risk losing up to 30 per cent of their pay.
OPINION: Bill 20 will turn every patient in Quebec into a number instead of a person
“Obviously, he wants to go quickly,” said CAQ MNA François Paradis.
The College of Physicians told a press conference in Montreal the Health Minister needs to stop bulldozing and start explaining.
“We want to know the big picture of what’s coming in the public health system in Quebec,”representatives said.
“The main thing we’re asking for is transparency.”
However, for now, the debate on the healthcare reform is at a complete standstill — and the PQ is accused of dragging its feet.
“He doesn’t say anything to us, you know. We ask him to be more transparent, more collaborative,” argued PQ MNA Diane Lamarre.
Liberals have reportedly been asked to clear their schedules Thursday, Friday and Monday.
The threat of closure hangs and could potentially spoil the PQ’s weekend convention in Laval.
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