Comité national sur la prestation des services de santé et des services sociaux en langue anglaise

The mandate of the Comité national sur la prestation des services de santé et des services sociaux en langue anglaise (Comité national) is to give its opinion to the Minister of Health on the accessibility and provision of health and social services in English.

In particular, the members can:

• carry out consultations
• request opinions
• receive and hear requests from individuals, organizations or associations

Specifically, section 416 of the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system (Act) provides for the creation of a Comité national sur la prestation des services de santé et des services sociaux en langue anglaise. The Committee is created by regulation, and its mandate is to advise the gouvernement du Québec on:

• the provision of health and social services in English
• the approval, evaluation and modification by the gouvernement du Québec of the access program developed by Santé Québec, in accordance with section 415 of the Act
• the approval of a request submitted by an integrated institution to withdraw a recognition under section 338 of the Act and and pursuant to the third paragraph of section 29.1 of the Charter of the French Language
• the identification of organizations that promote the interests of English speakers in each region, as provided in section 418 of the Act. These organizations will be consulted regarding the appointment of members of regional committees responsible for assessing and providing their opinion on the access program for health and social services in English developed by Santé Québec

The Comité national is composed of 11 voting members appointed by the Deputy Minister of Health to represent all of the English-speaking population in Québec, distributed as follows:

• two members residing within the Montréal health region
• one member residing within the Laval health region
• one member residing within the Montérégie health region
• one member residing within the Estrie health region
• one member residing within the Outaouais health region
• four members residing within the other health regions of Québec
• one member from an Indigenous community in Québec

At least one member must be practising or must have previously practised their profession within a public institution as defined in the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system or in the Act respecting health services and social services for the Inuit and Naskapi.

In addition to the eleven members, the Committee has an observer appointed by the Deputy Minister in each of the following categories:

• the people assigned to Indigenous affairs activities by the ministère du Conseil exécutif
• the people assigned to the activities of the ministry responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers

Each observer participates in the Committee’s meetings but does not have the right to vote.

A staff member of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) is also designated by the Deputy Minister to act as secretary. That individual participates in the Comité national’s meetings as a member would but does not have the right to vote.

A person cannot be a member of the Comité national if they:

• do not reside in Québec
• are a minor
• are the subject of a judgment for the institution of a tutorship to a person of full age or the homologation of a protection mandate
• were, within the previoust three years, relieved of their duties as a member of the Commitee
• were, within the preceding three years, relieved of their duties as a member of the board of directors of an institution or an institution board of directors
• were, within the preceding three years, found guilty of an offence under the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system (chapter G-1.021), the Act respecting health services and social services for the Inuit and Naskapi (chapter S-4.2) or a regulation under those Acts
• are a member of the board of directors of Santé Québec
• are employed by Santé Québec, but do not practise their profession within an institution
• are a member of the board of directors of an institution or an institution board of directors
• hold the position of president and executive director, assistant president and executive director or senior management officer of an institution
• hold the position of president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer of a foundation of an institution
• are a member of the board of directors of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
• are employed by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
• are employed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, except where they serve as secretary of the Commitee
• are a member of a regional committee formed pursuant to section 417 of the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system or section 510 of the Act respecting health services and social services for the Inuit and Naskapi
• are a member of a national committee formed pursuant to section 420 of the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system or of a provincial committee established pursuant to section 433.1 of the Act respecting health services and social services for the Inuit and Naskapi

Note that there is no age limit for sitting on the Comité national. Retired and employed persons can be members.

The members of the Committee appoint a chair and vice-chair from among themselves.

The Deputy Minister appoints as secretary of the Committee a staff member of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux who knows the concerns of English-speaking Quebecers regarding access to health and social services in English, is aware of them and has specific knowledge of the legislative and administrative framework for providing health and social services in English.

The term of office for the members of the Comité national is a maximum of three years. Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

At the end of their term, they remain in office until they are reappointed or replaced.

The workload varies depending on the concerns of the English-speaking community that members wish to bring to the Minister’s attention, as well as the means they wish to implement to do so.

If subcommittees are established, the workload may increase, as participating members will meet outside the Comité national’s meetings.

Expected responsibilities of members include, for example:

• submit topics to the Comité national for consideration related to improving the provision and accessibility of health and social services to the English-speaking community
• participate actively in meetings and subcommittees (if applicable) by speaking to contribute to discussions
• review meeting minutes for follow-up and resolution
• plan to receive guests by considering relevant questions to raise during presentations
• validate and comment on opinions drafted by the secretary
• review useful documentation related to priority topics identified by the Comité national
• comment on draft documents
• propose work methods and participate in their implementation

To register with the Comité national’s pool of candidates, simply complete the online form (in French only).

The Comité national’s quorum is set by the majority, including the Chair or the Vice-Chair.

The Committee’s decisions are made by a majority of the votes of members present. In the event of a tie, the Chair of the Committee or, in their absence, the Vice-Chair, has a casting vote.

The Comité national must hold at least five meetings per fiscal year. These meetings are held by videoconference. Extraordinary meetings may be added, as needed.

The meetings are conducted in both French and English and are held during the day on weekdays. They last approximately three hours, depending on needs.

Note that the documentation produced by the secretary (agenda, minutes, etc.) is exclusively in French, and documents related to the Comité national are posted on a platform. Candidates must therefore have basic knowledge of computers and access to a computer.

The Committee members serve in a personal capacity. They do not represent any organization, social or political group, in order to avoid any conflict of interest.

Members are not remunerated. However, they are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under the conditions and to the extent determined by the gouvernement du Québec.

The Comité national is composed of the following members:

• Norma Husk, Chair (Estrie)
• Pauline Grunberg, Vice-Chair (Montréal)
• Nathalie Benoît (Lanaudière)
• Jenny Gaboury (Montérégie)
• Jennifer Johnson (Capitale-Nationale)
• Keith Leclaire (Kahnawake)
• Rémi Pelletier (Outaouais)
• Jessica Synnott (Gaspésie)
• Jennifer Timmons (Montréal)
• Lise Viens (Laurentides)
• Ian Williams (Laval)
• Observer from the Secrétariat aux  affaires autochtones (SAA)
• Observer from the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise (SRQEA)

Ange Beaulieu is the secretary of the Comité national.