Over 500 Canadian Doctors Protest Pay Raise, Say They’re Already Earning Too Much

While in many parts of the world people are complaining about being underpaid, doctors in Quebec are actually protesting against getting a pay raise – but for good reason. The doctors have been joined by other medical specialists, residents, and medical students in signing a letter against earning more.

The medical professionals ask that the money be reallocated to benefit nurses and patients instead. Close to 800 individuals have signed the letter since it was released in late February.

The doctors hope the redistribution of resources can help overburdened nurses, clerks, and patients.

The letter, originally written in French and published by the group Médecins Québécois Pour le Régime (MQRP), reads:

“We, Quebec doctors who believe in a strong public system, oppose the recent salary increases negotiated by our medical federations.

“These increases are all the more shocking because our nurses, clerks and other professionals face very difficult working conditions, while our patients live with the lack of access to required services because of the drastic cuts in recent years and the centralization of power in the Ministry of Health. The only thing that seems to be immune to the cuts is our remuneration.”

According to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the average Canadian physician earned about $260,924 (gross) in 2016.

This is not the first time doctors in Quebec stood for their colleagues and patients. MQRP also penned a letter in February 17 opposing the $500 million in pay increases for specialist doctors, which they called “indecent.” The latest letter came after nurses held sit-ins to protest their working conditions. The petition further says:

“Contrary to the Prime Minister’s statements, we believe that there is a way to redistribute the resources of the Quebec health system to promote the health of the population and meet the needs of patients without pushing workers to the end.

We, Quebec doctors, are asking that the salary increases granted to physicians be canceled and that the resources of the system be better distributed for the good of the health care workers and to provide health services worthy to the people of Quebec.”