Re: “CAQ to work overtime to adopt constitution before end of the session” and “Another top heart surgeon joins exodus” (The Gazette, June 4)
Living in Quebec must be much like how Alice felt during her Adventures in Wonderland.
Our health care system is in crisis, and with the announced departure of two more top heart surgeons, stands to worsen.
The system is underfunded — plagued by shortages of all variety of health care professionals and dealing with a government whose attitudes toward doctors has at times been openly antagonistic.
Polls consistently show that health care is one of the most important public issues in Quebec and ranks near the top of voters’ concerns.
Despite this, the Coalition Avenir Québec is doing “double time” to get its proposed constitution passed before the National Assembly adjourns for the summer.
Why? As Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette explains, “it is in the interests of Quebecers” and because “the constitution is fundamental.”
Is the right to health care not fundamental to the interests of Quebecers?
“Curiouser and curiouser, cried Alice.”
Hal Gilmour, Montreal
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, seen with Economy Minister Bernard Drainville, is rushing to get his proposed Quebec constitution adopted before the National Assembly adjourns for the summer. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
Same serious issues in U.S.
Re: “Surgeon leaving city over antisemitism” (The Gazette, June 3)
One does not need to in any way criticize Dr. Emmanuel Moss to note that the Atlanta area has had serious antisemitism and health care problems.
Atlanta has recently had a substantial increase in antisemitic vandalism. In January, the major Combat Antisemitism Movement sponsored a meeting of area mayors to discuss the growing problem.
Furthermore, Atlanta has serious medical system problems, with the Commonwealth Fund ranking Georgia No. 45 among states in health care performance.
One should not conclude that moving to Atlanta means entering a situation without its own serious problems in antisemitism and medical care.
Shloime Perel, Côte-St-Luc
We deserve better care
Re: “Another top heart surgeon joins exodus” (The Gazette, June 4)
Reading the articles about two talented heart surgeons leaving Montreal because of a terrible lack of resources makes me anxious and sad.
Fifteen years ago, I had open-heart surgery at the Jewish General Hospital. My life was saved. I was very lucky.
I wonder how lucky I would have been if my crisis had occurred today.
The government has to do something quickly to change this situation. We pay high taxes in Quebec. We deserve better medical care.
Franceen Goodman Finesilver, Côte-St-Luc
Kudos to nurses at JGH
I would like to begin with the good news — heartfelt thanks and praise to the extraordinary nurses of the endoscopy unit at the Jewish General Hospital. During my recent visit, I witnessed professionalism, patience, compassion and sensitivity of the highest order. Despite an extremely demanding workload, these nurses treated every patient with dignity, kindness and reassuring care. Their attention to triage and recovery was truly first class.
The troubling reality, however, is that there were only four nurses managing a very heavy patient load. I was also saddened to learn that many of those staffing the unit are retired nurses who have returned temporarily simply to help keep the system functioning.
What does this say about the state of nursing in Quebec? Sadly, the answer is obvious. Since COVID-19, nurses have faced relentless pressure, exhaustion, understaffing and inadequate compensation. Many have understandably left for the private sector, while those remaining continue to shoulder impossible responsibilities with remarkable dedication and professionalism.
This situation is not new, but it bears repeating because these health-care workers deserve far more recognition, respect and support than they receive. The government must stop taking nurses for granted. They are an essential pillar of the health-care system. Patients deserve safe, compassionate care, and nurses deserve working conditions that allow them to provide it without burning themselves out.
To the nurses of the endoscopy unit at the JGH, thank you for your skill, humanity and unwavering commitment to your patients. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.
Lois Baron, Montreal
‘Biting’ not the best strategy
Re: “Sovereignist forges a connection with anglo federalists at dinner table” (The Gazette, May 19)
Frédéric Lapointe, head of the Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois, contends that Quebec — as a minority within Canada — will “bare its teeth and bite” as long as it feels threatened, with the only solution being independence.
It was not uncommon when I first moved to Quebec in the early 1990s to hear anglophones say that French was not threatened in Quebec. I’ve always disagreed with this view and feel French is quite obviously threatened and always has been.
What does not seem to be appreciated is that it always will be peu importe the status of Quebec inside or outside of Canada. It will always be a small minority within an enormous non-francophone North America.
An independent Quebec would still inevitably bite, but I don’t believe that would help the survival of French as much as would nurturing allies outside its borders.
And while people may laugh at this, my view is that officially bilingual Canada is currently Quebec’s only ally within North America. Under an independence scenario, that ally might be lost, leaving nothing but biting as a strategy.
Tom Robinson, Île-Bizard
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