MUHC slashes 169 positions, most of them vacant, in an effort to reduce deficit

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is abolishing 169 positions, as cuts in Quebec's health network largely animated the resumption of sessions at the National Assembly this week. 

Of the jobs affected, 141 positions are vacant and 28 are tenured, wrote MUHC spokesperson Annie-Claire Fournier in a statement to Radio-Canada.

Quebec health institutions had until Friday to submit to Santé Québec their latest plan for returning to a balanced budget, according to Radio-Canada.

Health Minister Christian Dubé asked the province's newest Crown corporation to "do its best" this year to contain the $1.5 billion deficit.

"I want to make sure that when we start the new year [April 2025], we are at the right level of spending that allows us to provide service to citizens ... and to return to a balanced budget," said Dubé.

Announcements of job cuts in the health-care system have been piling up over the last few weeks. 

"We know that these changes may cause concern, and we are fully aware of the impact they may have on the employees affected and on our teams as a whole," wrote Fournier.

"We want to support our employees and doctors throughout this delicate period ... and like all health-care establishments in Quebec, the MUHC must reduce its deficit." 

Fournier added that the vast majority of job cuts were made by eliminating unfilled positions not yet posted to limit the impact on staff.

MUHCEU-CSN, the union representing service and office staff, including administrative agents and patient attendants, described the news as a "bad decision." 

"As if by 'chance,' the government is not calling into question the countless subcontracts, all of which, without exception, cost more than the services offered by our members," the union said in a statement.

"The MUHCEU-CSN denounces the fact that, once again, budget cuts are affecting our clerical and service employees in particular."

The union concluded its statement by saying it's joining its colleagues in other health-care institutions in protesting against all service cuts and demanding a "radical change in policy to favour public services," rather than the interests of private groups. 

Last week, it was the turn of the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) to confirm in an internal memo the abolition of 134 positions, including 32 permanent positions and 102 vacant positions.