On Saturday (September 7) Health Minister Christian Dubé announced that the government would be equalizing the bonuses offered to medical imagery technicians in Outaouais health facilities.
The saga of technologist bonuses began in the spring, when they were initially offered to techs in the Hull and Gatineau hospitals before smaller bonuses were offered to those in the rest of the region over the course of the summer, due to concerns about staff leaving for facilities where the bonuses were higher. Five of the six full-time techs at the Pontiac Hospital have applied to work elsewhere, but it’s unclear how many will actually leave.
Jean Pigeon, spokesperson for advocacy group SOS Outaouais, said that while it’s a small victory, it’s only a short-term fix to a long-term problem. Pontiac MNA André Fortin was positive about the change, but added that it was only a start.
