{"id":891882,"date":"2026-02-12T05:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T11:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/lewis-quebecs-health-reform-d-day-turned-out-to-be-dieppe-what-happened\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T11:15:17","slug":"lewis-quebecs-health-reform-d-day-turned-out-to-be-dieppe-what-happened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/lewis-quebecs-health-reform-d-day-turned-out-to-be-dieppe-what-happened\/","title":{"rendered":"Lewis: Quebec\u2019s health reform D-Day turned out to be Dieppe. What happened?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=WqCeaHmsWFStAJh5n5ezhA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=FmYYa-LZRQyU2LmkSbYNWw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=59gg831fs6lJU4PLAGN1xA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=bJGLCLRZqrdd8I1qEr14Lw 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=leYUFfcrwVHGvCKQDR_pTw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=vBZ5oavmB81vBfBrQkayyQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=m9_6irMfTj1AXtheXh4yPg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=HKabq4XXfAn66YwyKYeUgA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=eE887nBF0vN0PPHztPnZSg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=4zv73RKLElyPB7MHYJ_KTQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img alt=\"doctor's office\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=2Sy7gzKpi7xxhnT7VVUOVg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=2Sy7gzKpi7xxhnT7VVUOVg,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0903-ed-revers_286991121.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=5ht-EBxUc_OLeMjCT4Uiqw 2x\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>An empty family doctor&#8217;s office is seen in this undated photo.<\/span> <span>Photo by XiXinXing<\/span> \/<span>Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><em>The best laid schemes o\u2019 mice an\u2019 men \/ Gang aft agley<\/em><br \/><em>\u2014 Robbie Burns<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Star Phoenix\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.5.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ssp-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>True that \u2014 there are few slam dunks in life and almost none in public policy. In any grand enterprise, be it building a subway or drafting a quarterback, uncertainty looms and stuff happens. But when the best-laid schemes turn out to be neither best-laid nor even coherent schemes, failure has barely to fire a shot to win the day. Exhibit One: Super Bowl 2015. Give the damn ball to Marshawn Lynch! (Look it up.)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Exhibit Two: Quebec\u2019s sweeping health care law, enacted on Oct. 25, 2025, a declaration of war on an unsustainable status quo. It held family doctors collectively responsible for enrolling 1.5 million unattached patients within a year. Territorial managers could assign new patients to underwhelmed practices. Fee-for-service payment would largely disappear. There would be fines for unmet targets.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Less than three months later, it\u2019s all over. The 1.5 million target is now 500,000, and no fines for missing it. Physician clinics will not be conscripted to serve <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"orphaned patients\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/opinion\/free-medical-care-shouldnt-mean-no-medical-care\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/opinion\/free-medical-care-shouldnt-mean-no-medical-care\" target=\"_blank\">orphaned patients<\/a> deposited on their doorsteps. Fee-for-service will continue to be the source of about half of family physicians\u2019 incomes.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>And there is a 14 per cent pay increase. The battle had barely been joined when the government ponied up reparations. Health Minister Christian Dub\u00e9 resigned in protest at the government\u2019s swift capitulation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>And this week, Premier Francois Legault quit. What might we learn from the revolution that wasn\u2019t?<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>First, do not go over-confident into a battle with doctors. Organized medicine is battle-hardened and successful, and when attacked, it can mobilize loyal troops. It is adept at portraying physicians as over-worked hostages in a system victimized by government parsimony. People like their doctors; they rarely have a cherished public servant.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Second, the government assumed that a noble cause \u2014 finding a doctor for orphaned patients surely qualifies \u2014 confers a warrant to pursue it by any means necessary. The government misread the room, if it read it at all. Soon after the law was passed, thousands of doctors rallied in opposition in Quebec City and Montreal. A public opinion poll found that 47 per cent of Quebecers opposed the law and 27 per cent supported it. Seventy-three per cent feared doctors would leave the province, and they were right \u2014 hundreds applied for licenses in Ontario.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Third, the political context matters. The Quebec government was massively behind in the polls. On the one hand, this created a pretext for taking a big swing at an intractable problem because there was no political capital left to lose. On the other, it could easily be labeled desperate opportunism, a cynical attempt to create a wedge issue with a populist patina. Such strategies are always long shots, especially when the public has tired of the incumbents and lost faith in their competence.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p> Jocelyn Bennett, Saskatoon StarPhoenix<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-quebecs-health-reform-d-day-turned-out-to-be-dieppe-what-happened\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An empty family doctor&#8217;s office is seen in this undated photo. Photo by XiXinXing \/Getty Images Article content The best laid schemes o\u2019 mice an\u2019 men \/ Gang aft agley \u2014 Robbie Burns THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":891883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2892,93822],"tags":[7530,9993],"class_list":{"0":"post-891882","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lewis","8":"category-quebecs","9":"tag-lewis","10":"tag-quebecs"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891882"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891882\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}