Quebec Bill 15 Empowers Health Professionals Amid Regulation Calls

Quebec’s proposed legislation, known as Bill 15, aims to enhance the roles of various health care professionals, including nurses and midwives. While the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) supports the initiative, it emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive regulations and training to accompany these changes. Discussions regarding Bill 15 are set to continue on February 11, 2026, with input expected from the CMQ, the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, and the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires.

The CMQ has expressed approval for provisions in Bill 15 that allow nurses to initiate tests and prescribe medications under certain conditions. Since 2016, nurses have been permitted to write prescriptions for wound care and other common ailments. Dr. Mauril Gaudreault, President of the CMQ, noted, “The openness shown by the Collège des médecins du Québec in recent years has been to recognize the competence of professionals. There are professionals who can do more things, whose competence is unknown or poorly recognized.”

In its recommendations, the CMQ outlines the need for Quebec to standardize regulations and practice standards among health professionals conducting similar tasks, particularly concerning prescriptions and test follow-ups. The integration of the Digital Health Record (DSN) is viewed as vital for the successful expansion of professional practices, ensuring seamless information sharing among health care providers.

“Of course, we need to improve communication methods,” added Gaudreault. “The more professionals there are for a single patient, for a single file, ideally, these professionals need to be able to communicate effectively with each other and have access to the same information when necessary.”

Regarding midwives, the CMQ advocates for further advancements under Bill 15. Currently, the bill allows midwives to prescribe and administer contraception and to screen and treat sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) “for any person, regardless of pregnancy, childbirth-related work, or the six-week postnatal period.” The CMQ is requesting that midwives be empowered to identify and treat STBBIs in all women, as well as provide breastfeeding support beyond the six-week postnatal timeframe.

Additionally, the CMQ has highlighted the importance of professional mobility across provinces. It suggests that amendments to the professional code be made to grant professional orders greater authority in evaluating candidates’ qualifications and implementing measures that affect their right to practice in different jurisdictions.

To enhance transparency, the CMQ recommends simplifying the governance structure of Quebec’s professional orders. It proposes that annual and special general meetings outlined in the professional code be replaced with public gatherings open to all citizens, while also increasing the number of public representatives on boards of directors. Currently, the CMQ comprises four public representatives and twelve physicians.

The health coverage provided by The Canadian Press is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, which ensures that the information shared is credible and reliable. This report, originally published in French by The Canadian Press, reflects ongoing discussions regarding the future of health care in Quebec and the evolving roles of its professionals.