Montreal, Sept. 15 — On the twentieth day of the province’s 2026 election campaign, MNA hopefuls gathered at the New Vision for Health summit to debate public‑health priorities and to press the governing Coalition Avenir Québec over a controversial information‑technology project. The summit, held in Montreal, became a focal point for candidates seeking to link health‑care delivery with the recent IT scandal that has dominated headlines.
The discussion centered on prevention‑care strategies, funding for hospitals and community clinics, and how digital tools could improve patient outcomes. While all participants emphasized the need for stronger public‑health infrastructure, several candidates directed their questions toward the CAQ’s handling of the IT rollout, citing concerns about cost overruns, data security and delays that have affected health‑service providers.
CAQ representatives defended the project as essential for modernising the health system, arguing that the technology will ultimately streamline appointments, reduce paperwork and enable better tracking of health trends. They acknowledged the criticism but maintained that the initiative remains a priority for the government’s digital transformation agenda.
Opposition candidates used the platform to highlight the contrast between the government’s technological ambitions and the immediate demands of patients awaiting care. They argued that any missteps in the IT deployment could undermine public confidence in the health system and called for greater transparency and oversight.
The summit underscored the broader theme of the campaign’s final stretch: health policy is now intertwined with questions of governance, fiscal responsibility and the capacity of the province to manage large‑scale digital projects. As the election moves toward its closing weeks, the debate at the New Vision for Health event illustrates how the IT controversy is shaping voter expectations about the future of Quebec’s health‑care system.
With voters increasingly attentive to how technology will affect everyday services, the candidates’ exchange in Montreal signals that health‑care and digital accountability will remain central issues as Quebec heads to the polls later this month.