Legault takes aim at McGill

Posted By: Angelica Montgomery · 8/29/2012 6:59:00 AM

François Legault says newly trained doctors who leave the province should be forced to reimburse Quebec for the cost of their training.

In particular, he says too many graduates from McGill's medical school desert Quebec for Ontario and the United States.

"I will not rule out using the notwithstanding clause, if necessary, to ensure that we keep more doctors who study at McGill," he told Le Devoir newspaper. "It doesn't make sense that at McGill, after five year, half of the doctors have left Quebec."

Legault says the notwithstanding clause could be used to force recent graduates to repay the $160,000 cost of their training.

About 50% of new doctors trained at McGill leave the province soon afterward.

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  1. Adam posted on 08/29/2012 08:03 AM
    This is an interesting idea (a bit too conservative for me, but interesting nonetheless). Why not apply it to all university students in the province?

    Here's a fairer version:

    After graduation, students will be required to show proof of gainful employment in Québec sufficient to repay Québec society for their contribution.

    For example, if a MDCM costs $160,000, a graduate earning $50,000 per annum would need to work 11 years in Québec to repay the debt. (The average income in Québec for a college graduate of $34,300 is subtracted from the annual income.)

    We could even apply it to CÉGEPs, too!

    *sigh*
  2. Mike Sanders posted on 08/29/2012 09:05 AM
    So let's get this straight. We need laws to force us which language to use in the workplace and for conducting business. We need laws that force what language your children can go to cegep in. We have people who want everything for free in this province and will disrupt the community to get what they want. Now, we need a law to force people to stay when they are done school?

    Maybe there are deeper issus here, lol. With all the political BS in this province, it's no wonder people can't wait to get out of here to get better jobs elsewhere.Time to have a different approach to the real problems here..
  3. jacob posted on 08/29/2012 10:42 AM
    Here's an even better idea, let's make Quebec a better place to live and work, instead of chasing out our professionals with restrictive language laws, never ending referendum debates, and intolerance towards minorities
  4. Thomas posted on 08/29/2012 12:38 PM
    Legault does not understand that the reason why these doctors leave is the fact that many new doctors, upon graduation are forced to work in rural areas and small towns in the middle of nowhere for far less money and much more hours than they would in another province or country.

    I remember years ago, when I was working in the west island, I met a nurse who just moved to the west island from Ontario and she told me that she had to take a 25% pay cut from what she made in Ontario. These are some of the reasons why Doctors leave Quebec for other provinces or another country.
  5. CynthiaM posted on 08/29/2012 02:35 PM
    I don't see anything wrong with asking students to stay in the province where the taxpayers footed the bill for their education. We want to support our students but with the expectation that they will support the community. In fact I don't see why this hasn't already been implemented!
    1. Carol AnnB posted on 08/30/2012 05:52 PM
      @CynthiaM I also agree students who have graduated have a responsible to the community that supported them
  6. Murray Myers posted on 08/31/2012 09:45 PM
    This not a problem that is unique to Quebec. All juridictions experience this problem with professions that are in national and international demand.

    The problem could be resolved by allowng anyone with the qualifications to enter a medical school to do so, despite the artificial quotas imposed by the universities. Hire the necessary teaching staff and provide the necessary resources to train medical pofessionals. The demand for doctors, nurses, and medical professionals
    is evident and must be addressed

    Here is one area where free tuition could be implemented as an incentive. Total tuition could be foregiven if the student remains and practices in the province or country for five to ten years. This should be done with interprovincial and federal support. One doctor leaving quebec could be substitued with a doctor from Nova Scotia who wants to pick up some experience in Quebec. The medical profession is so diverse that one jurisdiction, even Quebec, can not provide the necessary expertise in all areas.


    and practice
  7. Carlos posted on 09/03/2012 09:37 PM
    By the same logic, someone who goes to Harvard to get an MBA should work in Massachussets! Ridiculous. McGill is a world-class University, it is natural that we would attract people from all over. The main reason half don't stay is probably salary caps. Who can blame them?
    1. John posted on 09/06/2012 11:10 AM
      @Carlos Your comparison makes absolutely no sense. The main reason they want to make them stay is because contrary to massachussets, Quebec pays most of the tuitiion fees.
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