Re: Provincial Access Committees

Hello. I’m not sure what can be done at this point, and maybe it’s indicative that I’m not “political” but being talked about without recourse is very frustrating. Especially when being done by a government representative who does not (but should) have any first-hand knowledge of the Provincial Access Committee. I was a member of the recently “dismissed” Provincial Access Committee and I respectfully believe there are significant gaps in your knowledge and understanding. I am writing to you as a former member of the PAC (Laurentians) and concerned member of the ESCQ.

It has been beyond frustrating and heartbreaking to see 3 and 1/2 years of incredible hard work, dedication, and commitment to the ESCQ to be summarily dismissed by the CAQ, and, most recently by your comments in the Sherbrooke Record where you referred to our committee as “dysfunctional”. This is despite your refusing requests to meet with us I believe, or reaching out on your own as I would think would be acceptable from the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier for Relations with Englishspeaking Quebecers. I don’t know of anything more pressing than the health, safety and well-being of a group of people to which you are responsible for “relations” with.

I learnt of our being disbanded like most of the population: in the news. This should not have been surprising, since I feel communication with the MISSS has been the bane of our existence throughout our mandate (I believe as of this moment, only 1 of our year-end-reports have been made public?). Despite NO clear guidelines to the contrary, I feel we were actively blocked from speaking with the ESCQ throughout our tenure, despite this being at the core of the mandate of the PAC. It seems we were also blocked through bureaucracy regarding the provision of appropriate training to Regional Access Committees during their development of the latest plans. During a pandemic, when the CAQ used this as a ready excuse for further delays in communication, we were mandated to read through the entire province’s submissions of Regional Access Plans to have them finalized by a deadline…. now recognized as their deadline to disband us.

These are just a few of the examples of the dysfunction. However, I believe you have erroneously placed the dysfunction upon the PAC instead of where it clearly lies, on the CAQ. If anyone cares to dig, there is an ample paper trail of a PAC who worked tirelessly to advocate for the healthcare rights of the ESCQ and who were summarily blocked, ignored, dismissed, chastised at every turn. This is beyond a tragedy for the health and well-being of the ESCQ. I have heard “through the grapevine” that the CAQ

did not enjoy having a PAC that asked questions, clarified linguistic laws as they applied to accessibility of the ESCQ in healthcare, made logical recommendations, and who really read and assessed Regional Access Plans (as opposed to a mere stamp of approval). In short, the CAQ did not enjoy a PAC who tried to keep the Ministry honest and accountable in their legal obligation to provide for equitable health care to the ESCQ; for this we are being shamed by being referred to as “dysfunctional”. This from the person responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers?

This is surely why, instead of merely adjusting the format of the PAC allowing for a redistribution of regional and Indigenous representation while allowing for continuity as the regions move into implementation of their plans, the government has seen fit to begin once again from nothing. From personal experience, it can take up to 2 years to fully understand the Quebec health care system, governance, and wrap one’s head around the political bureaucracy entrenched in this province. This position is not for the faint of heart or the easily frustrated. And may I remind you, it is a volunteer, unpaid position that requires full-time hours. You have once again been quoted in the Sherbrooke Record as saying that any member is “welcome to reapply” but have not provided clarification where the eligibility criteria indicates one cannot be a member if they have previously been dismissed from the Committee. It certainly feels as if we have been “dismissed”, especially as this notion is supported by your allegation of “dysfunctional”. Surely you can provide clarification before the deadline to submit my interest?

We will see what comes next, but when a PAC who is nominated by the population through advocacy groups cannot hope to be able to meet their mandate over the course of almost 4 years to ensure equitable access to health and social services due to government disingenuity, I do not have much hope for a PAC who is appointed and managed by more explicit governmental controls. Someone needs to know the actual truth of the PACS last 3 and 1/2 years.

Again, I am writing to you as a former member of the PAC (Laurentians) and concerned member of the ESCQ. Sincerely,