Liberal health reforms subject of scorn at nurses' election debate

The woman tasked with defending the Couillard Liberals' controversial health reforms says she would take steps to hire more nurses and improve their working conditions if her partygetsanother mandate.

Gertrude Bourdon, who would replace the unpopular Gatan Barrette as health minister if the Liberals win the election, was the target of criticism at a debate Wednesday featuring candidates from the party's four main parties.

"The Liberals have let the situation deteriorate," said Danielle McCann, a CAQ candidate and another potential health minister, referringspecificallyto high nurse-to-patient ratios, a key issue forthe province's nurses.

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The debate took place at the Montreal offices of the Fdration interprofessionnelle de la sant (FIQ), a powerful labour federation whichrepresents7,500 Quebec nurses.

Nurses were among Barrette's most vocal critics, complaining his reforms left themoverworked and stressed out.

Where they stand

On Wednesday, all parties committed to making improvements to the conditions for nurses, though their approaches differed.

Bourdon pledgedthe Liberals wouldembark on a "massive" hiring spree.

McCann, for her part,said aCAQgovernment would "definitely eliminate mandatory overtime," a longstanding demand from nurses.

The CAQ has promised to free up resources in ERsby improving access to CLSCs and private clinics.

It has also committed to providing Quebecers with access to a family doctor within 36 hours.

The PQ's Diane Lamarre, meanwhile, reiterated her party's plan toset up a $10 million fundto addressstaffing problemsand to openCLSCsseven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

She said inadequatefunding hasled to "inhuman" conditions, creatingan "exodus" in the nursing field. She blamed, in part, the reforms that centralized health care services.

Vanessa Roy of QubecSolidaire said her party would put more power into the hands of nurses and pay them better.

Nurses would welcome female health minister

FIQ vice-president Denise Joseph said she was encouraged by the candidates' comments and would press for more specific commitments ahead of the Oct. 1 vote.

All four parties' representatives at Wednesday's debate were women, and Joseph said havinga woman as Quebec's next health minister could provide a different perspective.

"We are used to dealing with a health care minister as a manfor the past quite a few years," she said.