On June 20, 2026, the provincial health authority Santé Québec announced that candidates for senior positions at its establishments must complete pre‑employment questionnaires that include questions about mental health and eating disorders. The requirement has drawn criticism for being overly intrusive.
The questionnaires are administered before any hiring decision is made and ask applicants to disclose personal information related to their psychological well‑being and any history of eating‑related conditions. The agency says the forms are part of its screening process for executive roles.
Critics argue that the level of detail requested goes beyond typical job‑related inquiries and could deter qualified professionals from applying. They contend that asking about mental‑health status and eating‑disorder history before a candidate has been offered a position infringes on privacy.
The debate has raised questions about the balance between an employer’s interest in assessing fitness for senior leadership and the right of applicants to keep personal health information confidential. Observers note that similar screening practices are uncommon in the public sector.
As the discussion continues, the agency has not released a statement clarifying whether the questionnaires will be modified in response to the concerns. The issue remains a point of focus for those monitoring employment practices within Quebec’s health system.
Pre‑employment health screenings are commonly used to verify physical fitness for certain roles, but the inclusion of mental‑health and eating‑disorder questions for executive positions is less typical. The current controversy may prompt a review of screening policies across other government bodies.