Quebec agrees to repeal Bill 2

The Quebec government has reached an agreement in principle with its family doctors that will delay and amend controversial legislation overhauling how physicians are paid.

The deal, announced Thursday, follows an intensive round of negotiations between the province and the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), including a meeting between the federation’s president and Premier François Legault.

The agreement comes in response to Bill 2, a remuneration reform that ties physician salaries to the number of patients they follow and the vulnerability of those patients. The FMOQ has warned the law’s impact would be “catastrophic,” saying it has already prompted some family doctors to leave Quebec, take early retirement or move into the private sector, according to The Canadian Press.

In a message to its members, the FMOQ said it views the agreement in principle as a significant development in a tense bargaining climate.

“We know that many family doctors were until recently juggling with different scenarios for the next steps in their careers, and we’re fully aware of the climate of uncertainty that you have gone through, and the uncertainty isn’t over,” the federation said, according to the Canadian Press report. “However, we can confirm that the FMOQ is satisfied with the agreement in principle, and that it adequately addresses the objectives you gave us,” it added, as reported by The Canadian Press.

Bill 2, pushed through the National Assembly by Premier François Legault’s government using closure, links part of doctors’ compensation to patient volume and other performance targets. It also introduces steep fines for physicians who engage in collective action or pressure tactics to resist the changes. The government argued these measures are necessary to improve access for the 1.5 million Quebecers without a family doctor, but the backlash has been swift and fierce.

In just a few days following the passing of Bill 2, more than 100 Quebec doctors applied for licences to practise in other provinces, according to a previous report. In November, more than 12,000 doctors, medical students, and their supporters packed Montreal’s Bell Centre, demanding the Quebec government suspend the same legislation.

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

‘Law 2 could be perfected’

Details of the agreement between the Quebec government and the FMOQ have not been made public, noted The Canadian Press, but the group plans to present the terms to family doctors in a series of webinars on Friday before putting the deal to a vote, according to the report.

Health Minister Christian Dubé said the government will introduce legislation to postpone the application of Bill 2 until 28 February, in order to give time to amend the law.

“I always said Law 2 could be perfected and we wanted to take the time to make the necessary adjustments,” he told reporters at the National Assembly in Quebec City, according to The Canadian Press. He said Quebecers would ultimately benefit if the agreement is approved.

Previously, the Arthritis Society Canada, along with several other organisations, sent a petition letter to Premier Legault and Minister Dubé, asking that they repeal Bill 2.

“This legislation, while designed to improve access and efficiency, threatens to dismantle the very foundations of specialized, continuous care that people with arthritis depend on to stay mobile, employed, and independent. We encourage you to pause Bill 2 and re-engage with groups impacted by this bill,” the groups said.

In its current form, Bill 2 represents three serious risks, according to the group, including:

• Erosion of Care Quality

• Loss of Specialists

• Future Capacity Crisis

“This is a pivotal moment. The Government of Quebec can either move forward with flawed legislation that risks worsening care for thousands or pause Bill 2’s implementation and engage with physicians, patients, and advocates to produce collaborative, sustainable solutions that protect the province’s most vulnerable patients,” the groups said. “We stand ready to work with you.”