Protesters demand Quebec withdraw forced hospitalization bill
About 100 victims and advocates are gathering in Quebec City to oppose Bill 23, which would broaden the criteria for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.
About 100 victims and advocacy group representatives are protesting Tuesday in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City to demand that the government withdraw Bill 23, which would expand the grounds for forced psychiatric hospitalization.
The bill revises Bill P-38, the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state presents a danger to themselves or to others, which passed more than 25 years ago. Currently, authorities can only forcibly hospitalize a person if they pose a "serious and immediate" danger. Bill 23 proposes to broaden the criterion to a "situation where there is a danger."
François Winter, with the Association of Mental Health Rights Advocacy Groups of Quebec (AGIDD-SMQ), says he fears there could be an increase in involuntary hospitalizations in Quebec. He'd rather see a massive increase in mental health resources.
"Where we could make a real difference to improve things is by providing services in the community, particularly crisis services," Winter said. "In Chaudière-Appalaches, there are nine crisis shelter beds in the community. Are we doing everything we can to ensure people don't have to go to the hospital?"
In a brief set to be presented to the parliamentary committee Tuesday, AGIDD-SMQ argues that "an emergency law must not become a tool for social management." The association emphasized: "Too often, people subjected to involuntary hospitalization have already sought help before their situation deteriorated, yet they did not receive the necessary services in time."
Nadine Huppé, a teacher from the Outaouais region who was forcibly hospitalized after a breakdown in 2015, shared her experience. "I was forcibly admitted, forcibly injected, and put in isolation," she said. "I needed to speak with either a psychologist or a social worker. I didn't even have that."
The AGIDD-SMQ is not alone in its concerns. The Ombudsman and the College of Physicians have also questioned the proposed approach. The College of Physicians noted that already, a "significant" number of Quebecers are placed in preventive custody — nearly 20,000 in 2023–2024. "An increase could overwhelm the system and exacerbate current difficulties in accessing care," it warned.
Winter says the reform is "hasty" and is urging lawmakers to take much more time to "reflect."