With Sonia Bélanger officially installed as Quebec’s new health minister, replacing Christian Dubé, many are wondering what she’ll do differently. The new appointment came at the behest of Premier François Legault, with Bélanger being sworn in Friday afternoon. Bélanger brings extensive healthcare experience to the task at hand. Having previously acted as junior health minister and having held the portfolios for seniors, caregivers and social services, her expertise in this extremely important role is manifest.
As a trained professional nurse and former CEO of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Bélanger brings significant experience to the ministry. She will lead the implementation of Bill 2. This bill has experienced some dramatic setbacks but as of this writing is now the most likely bill to be passed before the end of February. By emphasizing her commitment to tackling the healthcare access crisis, Bélanger would have signaled her readiness to work in partnership with family doctors.
Transition and Background
Bélanger’s transition into this high-profile position comes amid ongoing challenges within Quebec’s healthcare system. She thanked Dubé for his contributions during his tenure, stating, “Despite the circumstances of his departure, we mustn’t overlook all the positive changes he implemented as minister of health.” Her background as a nurse and her executive experience at health service centers provide her with a unique perspective on the needs of healthcare professionals and patients alike.
Bélanger was elected as a Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Prévost, in the Laurentians, in 2022. He is by no means a stranger to public service. She’s worked in deep partnership with health professionals. Most prominently, she served in close collaboration with Dr. Marc Amyot, president of the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec. The two had worked together before on things like medical aid in dying. This collaboration is further testament to Bélanger’s dedication to addressing the most challenging and critical healthcare challenges.
“Bélanger made clear her goal to put accessibility at the heart of healthcare. There is a firm commitment on both sides to make care and services accessible to the Quebec population. This will be my priority in the coming hours and days,” she stated during her swearing-in ceremony.
Collaboration with Family Physicians
Bélanger’s short-term objective is to create a culture of collaboration among family physicians. This new collaboration between researchers, educators, and clinicians is essential to improving patient care throughout the province. She was delighted when she found out that family practitioners had ratified an agreement with the provincial government. This agreement is a significant step in the right direction toward increased collaboration.
Bélanger will be engaging regularly with individual physicians. His broader goal is to ensure that those perspectives inform future policy decisions. As she noted, “I’m truly very happy to be here this afternoon and very honoured by the trust the premier has placed in me. The challenge is enormous, and I feel capable of meeting it.”
Analysts expect Bélanger to take a go-slow approach to her new job. This is especially critical with a general election just around the corner. Dr. Benoît Heppell remarked, “I would be very surprised to see a minister embark on major changes, major debates, a grand saga or major reforms,” pointing out the potential political constraints surrounding her tenure.
Future Priorities
Bélanger’s short-term work will undoubtedly be focused on how to implement Bill 2 — making sure that what’s in the bill actually gets put into practice. The long delay before its enactment has caused understandable consternation among stakeholders in the health sector. This makes her leadership all the more critical as we embark on this transition.
In recent months, Premier Legault has gone to bat for Bélanger on social media, speaking to the daunting work before her and the legacy of her predecessor’s successes. “Christian took responsibility for certain mistakes, and that’s entirely to his credit,” Legault commented, recognizing Dubé’s efforts in navigating complex negotiations with medical federations.
As Bélanger moves into this critical role, she is presented with many challenges but great opportunities. Her practice prioritizes collaboration, community engagement, and accessibility. There is much at stake and many stakeholders are deeply invested in seeing whether she succeeds as she kicks off this new, promising chapter in Quebec’s healthcare leadership.
