Thousands of doctors, medical students, and supporters gathered at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal on Sunday to call for the suspension of Bill 2. This legislation, which links part of doctors' pay to performance metrics, was passed by the National Assembly last month after Premier François Legault's government invoked closure to expedite the process. Under the new law, doctors who engage in collective actions or pressure tactics against the changes could face significant fines. The backlash was swift, with federations representing Quebec's general practitioners, medical specialists, and medical students filing legal challenges against the law. Rally organizers, including these federations and the one representing medical residents, reported that around 12,500 tickets were distributed for the event. Dr. Marc-André Amyot, president of the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), expressed his concerns, stating, "I've never seen a mobilization of this scale, but I've never seen a law as bad as the one we're seeing now." The government claims that the performance targets aim to encourage physicians to see more patients, which Legault argues will benefit the 1.5 million Quebec residents without a family doctor. However, Amyot criticized the approach, noting that the Quebec College of Physicians has deemed the link between compensation and patient volume as dangerous and unacceptable. He highlighted the negative impact on patient care, with many physicians considering relocating to other provinces or retiring early. "It's a catastrophe," he said. Maxence Pelletier-Lebrun, president of another medical federation, echoed these sentiments, stating that the new law could compromise patient care. He explained, "Now the ideal that’s promoted by the government is you need to work fast. You need to see patients in X minutes when sometimes, let’s say you’re an ER doctor, you need more time to eliminate stroke, to eliminate heart arrest." Since the law's adoption, hundreds of Quebec doctors have applied for positions in other provinces. The College of Physicians of Ontario reported receiving 250 applications from Quebec doctors since October 23. Dr. Vincent Oliva, president of the federation representing medical specialists, emphasized that the issue lies not with performance targets but with the lack of resources to meet those targets. "We're not afraid of performance," he said. "What we want is a commitment from the government." Oliva pointed out the urgent need for more staff and resources to effectively manage operating rooms and outpatient services. Earlier this week, the Quebec government announced it would suspend two measures of Bill 2 in hopes of encouraging the doctors' federations to return to negotiations. However, both Oliva and Amyot stated that discussions would not resume unless the law is fully suspended. "What we want is to improve access," Oliva said, referring to productive contract negotiations that took place over the summer. He criticized the legislation for infringing on doctors' basic freedoms and creating a climate of mistrust. Opposition parties in the National Assembly have been vocal in their criticism of the law, with Québec Solidaire supporting the medical federations' call for its withdrawal. The law has also caused unrest within the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, leading to the resignation of one minister, Lionel Carmant, who now sits as an independent. Another legislator, Isabelle Poulet, expressed her disappointment with the party's handling of the legislation. In response to the rally, a spokesperson for Health Minister Christian Dubé acknowledged the significance of the changes and the concerns raised by doctors. "We will continue to provide support to clearly explain what they entail," the statement said. "Our responsibility remains to improve access and ensure that the entire population receives the care they need throughout Quebec."