(Quebec) The largest group of employment agencies spent a bad quarter of an hour in parliamentary committee on Bill 10, which aims to abolish them. Christian Dubé set the tone by accusing the industry representative of “defending the indefensible”.
The Minister of Health did not go through all four paths to challenge the president of the Association of Private Companies of Caregivers of Quebec, Patrice Lapointe, who also owns the Progressive Services agency.
Christian Dubé hounded Mr. Lapointe on the rates specifically requested by his company in different regions of Quebec. He took the example of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where Mr. Lapointe’s company would have charged $80 an hour for a licensed practical nurse, whereas the maximum rate according to the collective agreement is $32 an hour. “This gross margin there is 170%,” said Mr. Dubé.
Mr. Lapointe pointed out that several costs must be taken into account when agency employees lend a hand to the network in remote regions, such as travel expenses, by the way and a distance allowance. The president of the EPPSQ deplored in the same breath that the minister ventured on his specific case when he represents twenty members.
« OK [Vos membres] roughly charge how much on the [services] essential? “replied Mr. Dubé to which Mr. Lapointe was unable to provide an average price. “I think you are coming today to defend what is indefensible”, launched the minister tit for tat.
At the end of vigorous exchanges, the entrepreneur undertook to open his books to the members of the commission. The request will also be sent to its members.
The EPPSQ maintains that “contrary to what many believe, even at the height of the pandemic”, the remuneration of the staff of the independent labor network was $58.21, all types of jobs combined, only 0.5% higher than that of network personnel, taking into account the benefits offered to public network workers.
Exposed abuses
Data which is far from having convinced the parliamentarians who heard groups, who throughout the day of consultation, reported abusive practices of agencies. The Quebec Regrouping of Seniors’ Residences has even compared private agencies to “parasites” invading the system.
“I’m not here to defend overbilling, it’s important to put things in perspective and have a global vision,” tried to explain Mr. Lapointe, who admits that companies, including its members, who overdid it during the pandemic. The EPPSQ says it pleads for better supervision of the industry precisely to prevent this type of situation from happening again, underlined Mr. Lapointe.
“I have the impression that you are coming up with recommendations because you are backed up against the wall,” retorted Liberal MP André Fortin.
“I think you had a little golden egg hen, who gave you a coco a week. Proverbially you wanted more […] worse, you have killed the goose with the golden eggs. That’s what happened, it’s called greed as far as I’m concerned, ”launched the solidarity deputy, Vincent Marissal.
The EPPSQ recommends the Legault government, in its bill, to establish a list of suppliers accredited by the Quebec government and to reinstate quality standards in public calls for tenders.
Instead of abolishing the use of placement agencies, it would be more realistic to authorize a pre-established number of hours to be performed by independent labour, believes the largest industry grouping. This target should be between 3 to 5%, according to the EPPSQ. Currently, less than 4% of the hours worked in the health network as a whole are by independent workers.
An “empty shell” according to the FIQ
Minister Christian Dubé’s bill to put an end to the use of employment agencies is an “empty shell” in the eyes of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ). According to the union, Quebec misses its target and must give more bite to its aims.
“If the government thought it would please the healthcare professionals in the public network and the union organization […] with this pretense of a firm position against private agencies, it is clear that he did not succeed in fooling anyone,” said the president of the FIQ, Julie Bouchard.
Yet it was at the request of the union that the Minister of Health took the decision to legislate to abolish the use of agencies. “I’m still looking for the thank you,” retorted Minister Dubé at the opening of consultations on Bill 10, which began Tuesday in Quebec.
The union points out that the measures to tighten the screw on the independent workforce (ME) will for the most part be specified by regulation, the nature of which is not known for the moment.
The FIQ recommends that “the guidelines necessary for the gradual elimination” of the independent workforce, such as annual targets, deadlines and the basic criteria for government calls for tenders “be included” in the draft law and not in a regulation.
“This modification is essential so that Bill 10 really ensures the progressive elimination” of the agencies, writes the FIQ in its brief where the union issues a long list of recommendations concerning the working conditions of nurses.
As in emergency measures
The Minister of Health has argued that “the bulk” of the regulations to be tabled later by his government will be similar to the ministerial orders aimed at agencies during the health emergency. “I don’t think it’s an issue,” he said in a press scrum.
During the health crisis, measures had been taken to tighten the screws on agencies, such as the establishment of ceiling prices by profession. A 90-day period had also been made mandatory between the time an employee who leaves the network can return to work there for an agency.
“Everything you asked of me will be in the regulations. There will be no surprises,” reassured Minister Dubé in responding to Mr.me Bouchard. He recalled that the government had to give itself “flexibility” by proceeding by regulation.
In 2021-2022, the Quebec government spent nearly a billion dollars to hire independent workers. This is a 380% increase since 2016.