Specialist physicians in Quebec have ratified a principle agreement with the provincial government, with 86 percent of members of the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec (FMSQ) voting in favor of the deal, according to multiple French-language news outlets reporting on April 23 and 24, 2026.
The agreement marks the end of a prolonged negotiation period between the FMSQ and the Quebec government, which had been without a renewed framework contract since March 31, 2023. The ratification comes four months after a similar agreement was reached with family physicians in the province.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Quebec government will increase the compensation envelope for specialist physicians by 8.5 percent over five years, with an additional 2.5 percent contingent on meeting performance targets related to access to specialized appointments and surgical services. This brings the total potential increase to 11 percent, as confirmed by government sources cited in the reports.
specialist physicians have secured an additional 1.5 percent increase described as “outside the envelope,” which will still be funded by the government for the remuneration of department and service chiefs. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette highlighted the inclusion of performance-based targets in physician compensation as a first for specialist doctors in the province, stating it demonstrates efforts to improve healthcare access while respecting fiscal capacity.
The agreement also includes government commitments to increase operating capacity, address issues with the Centralized Request Distribution Service (CRDS), improve the service, and fund projects in specialized medicine. Details of the performance targets and exact monetary values are expected to be released in the coming days.
Negotiations between the government and the FMSQ resumed formally in early April 2026 following intensified pressure tactics, including the withdrawal of specialist physicians from offering appointments through the CRDS platform and suspending participation in the Quebec Digital Health Record system for several weeks.
Quebec Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau described the negotiation process as “rigorous, firm, and responsible,” emphasizing that the agreed-upon terms respect the province’s ability to pay while establishing performance benchmarks to better meet patient needs.
The ratification vote took place on Thursday evening, with the FMSQ announcing the outcome via social media. No further public details about the agreement’s specifics have been released as of the latest reports.