Comité provincial pour la prestation des services de santé et des services sociaux aux personnes issues des communautés ethnoculturelles

The Comité provincial pour la prestation des services de santé et des services sociaux aux personnes issues des communautés ethnoculturelles (Comité provincial) was created pursuant to section 433.1  of the Act respecting health services and social services.

The Committee’s mandate is to advise the Minister of Health and Social Services on the accessibility and provision of health and social services to people from ethnocultural communities in Québec. Members of the Comité provincial members may:

• hold consultations;
• solicit opinions;
• receive and hear requests from individuals, organizations or associations.

The Comité provincial is composed of 11 members appointed by the minister to represent the different ethnocultural communities in Quebec.

To act as secretary, a staff member of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux is designated by the minister. The secretary participates in the Comité provincial sessions as a member would but does not have the right to vote.

The members of the Comité provincial sit in a personal capacity. To avoid a conflict of interest, they do not represent an organization or a social or political group in any way. The Comité provincial members are not paid. However, they are entitled to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the conditions and to the extent determined by the government.

The term of office of the members is a maximum of three years and members may not serve more than two consecutive terms. Upon the expiry of their term of office, they shall remain in office until reappointed or replaced.

Member qualifications

A person cannot be a member of the Comité provincial if he or she:

• does not reside in Québec;
• is a minor;
• is under guardianship or curatorship;
• has, in the past three years, forfeited his office or been removed of his duties as a member of the board of directors of a health and social services institution or was removed from the Comité provincial;
• has, in the past three years, been convicted of an offence against the Act respecting health and social services (chapter S-4.2) or a regulation under the Act;
• holds a position as president, executive director, assistant president and executive director, senior administrator or senior management officer of a health and social services institution;
• is a member of the board of directors of a health and social services institution;
• is a member of the board of directors of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec;
• holds a position as a president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer of a foundation of a health and social services institution;
• is employed by the MSSS or the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec;
• is a member of a regional committee for programs that provide access to health and social services in the English language formed pursuant to section 510 of the Act respecting health and social services.

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

Selection of candidates

The selection process includes a general call for nominations. Then, in order to appoint members, the Minister establishes a selection committee. The committee recommends candidates for the positions to be filled. The recommendations must take into account:

• the comprehension and knowledge of the candidates regarding the issues facing ethnocultural communities with respect to the provision of health and social services;
• the organization of the health and social services network and its governance;
• ethnocultural composition;
• representation of the different regions of Québec.

To register with the Comité provincial’s bank of applicants, complete the online form .

The Comité provincial must hold at least five sessions per fiscal year, three of which must be in person. When they are held remotely, it is by videoconference. Special meetings may be added, as required.

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

The workload varies depending on the concerns of the English-speaking community that the members wish to advise the Minister on, as well as the steps they wish to take to succeed.

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

Members’ responsibilities include the following:

• submit to the Comité provincial for consideration matters regarding the provision and accessibility of health and social services to the English-speaking community;
• actively participate in meetings and subcommittees (if any) by speaking to stimulate the discussions;
• read the meeting minutes lire les comptes rendus des rencontres en vue de leur résolution;
• plan to receive guests by reflecting on relevant questions to ask during presentations;
• validate and comment on the opinions written by the secretary;
• read any relevant documentation regarding the priority matters identified by the Comité provincial;
• comment on document proposals;
• propose work methods and participate in their implementation.

The Comité provincial is composed of the following members:

• Ms. Elfi Esther Aldana Perez (Laval);
• Mr. Rocco Famiglietti (Montréal) – Vice-president;
• Ms. Isabelle Hemlin (Montréal);
• Ms. Phuong Hua (Laval);
• Ms. Murielle Mabialah (Lanaudière);
• Ms. Denise Charline Teikeu (Montérégie);
• Mr. Alpha Touré (Montréal);
• Mr. Jean-Philippe Turcotte (Québec);
• Ms. Bilkis Vissandjée (Montréal) – President.

See the biography of each member in the French page .

Formations en interculturel - État de la situation dans le réseau de la santé et des services sociaux du Québec  (in French only)

The secretary of the Comité provincial is Émilie Mogno. She can be contacted at: