9 days until the public plan non-participation notices are submitted: The ACDQ asks Premier Couillard to remove Gaétan Barrette from the negotiations with dentists

MONTREAL, July 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - True to his habits, Gaétan Barrette, Minister of Health and Social Services (MSSS), is becoming increasingly confrontational, standing firm on his positions, and showing unprecedented contempt toward Quebec dentists. Despite the fact that the MSSS and the Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec (ACDQ) returned to the negotiating table on Friday, July 13, the meeting proved to be totally unproductive. The government's representatives were not mandated to do anything and the government had nothing to offer. Minister Barrette is attempting yet again to undo the gains achieved by dentists, which include principles that have been recognized over the last 20 years of negotiations, especially as regards the operating expenses of dental offices. Gaétan Barrette is standing in the way of an agreement; he must be removed from the negotiations if an agreement is to be negotiated before we begin our pressure tactics.

This is the situation currently faced by the ACDQ, which is concerned and disappointed by the turn of events surrounding the renewal of the agreement on the public dental care plan.

"Mr. Barrette would like to ignore the fact that it is the government that needs dentists, and not the other way around, to ensure the sustainability of the dental care provided in the public network. There are just 9 days left before dentists submit their public plan non-participation notices and they will not be intimated by Minister Barrette's threat of issuing a ministerial order to prohibit their non-participation," stated Dr. Serge Langlois, President of the ACDQ. Dr. Langlois urges the Premier to intervene directly in order to protect children and the least fortunate of our society, segments of the population that are not of any interest to Minister Barrette.

"Gaétan Barrette does not seem to care about the oral health of children and the most vulnerable individuals of our society. He will be held accountable for them and have to answer for his actions in due course. Nevertheless, it has now become necessary to take away a responsibility from him that he has never assumed," continued Dr. Langlois.

For that reason, the ACDQ demands that Premier Couillard intervene immediately in the negotiations, or he will have to accept the consequences of a conflict with dentists that will affect the more than 600,000 individuals who are covered by the public plan: children under 10 years of age and beneficiaries of last-resort financial assistance.

About the ACDQ

The mission of the Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec, which was formed in 1966 under the Professional Syndicates Act, is to study, defend and develop the professional, economic and social interests of its members. It also strives to gain recognition for its members' expertise, contribute to their training, defend the value and importance of their services, negotiate all necessary agreements on their behalf, and support research, social action, and humanitarian activities.

SOURCE Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec (ACDQ)

For further information: Magalie Ross, [e-mail], 514 717-1425