Gatan Barrette calls emergency meeting with unions amid turmoil at MUHC

Health Minister Gatan Barrette will hold an emergency meeting early this morningwith unions representing workers at the McGill University Health Centreamid an administrative crisis at the province's largest hospital.

The MUHC's 10 independent board members abruptly quit on Tuesday, complaining Barrette had been ignoring their concerns and giving them the silent treatment for months.

Their departures have left a gaping void at the hospital, which has been under the leadership of an interim president for close to a year.

In recent years, unions and doctors alike have said that funding shortfalls which Barrette has repeatedly refused to address haveled to higher rates of burnout and longer wait-times.

Barrette has responded time and again by criticizingthe hospital's management, insisting that its funding is sufficient.

A recent reportcommissioned by Barrette's officerecommended the hospital's administration be placed under trusteeship. Barrette played down that possibility prior to the resignationsbut did not rule it out entirely.

• MUHC board resignations leave '1st-class institution' facing leadership void

The meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Barrette's Montreal office, three union representatives said.

A spokesperson for Barrette would only confirm he plans to meet with unions and the patients' committee in the coming days. She offered no details as towhat will be discussed.

What's next?

Denyse Joseph, president of the MUHC nursesunion, is among those concerned about Barrette's heavy-handed management style and the future of the hospital in the wake of the resignations.

She worries the new board members chosen by Barrette won't be as likely as the former independent board members to challenge him when they feel it'snecessary.

Bill 10, controversial legislation passed by the Couillard government in February 2015, stripped hospital boards of much oftheir power.

"He's just going to name people who are going to follow what he's saying instead of giving a real mandate to these people and a real budget," Josephsaid.

She is hoping that Barrette will address the lack of funding and the leadership void at the institution when he meets the unions Thursday.

"What I'm afraid of is that he's just going to tell us that the MUHC is very well-financed," said Joseph, who represents more than 3,000 nursing and cardio-respiratory professionals.

Barrette, for his part, has maintained the MUHC will continue to run as usual despite the resignations.

"The MUHC, as we speak today, is and will remain a world-class hospital providing absolutely top-level care, and that hasn't changed today," he said Wednesday.

Anglo-rights group denies advising Barrette

The Quebec Community Groups Network, which represents 53 English-language community organizations across the province, has also faced questions about its involvement in finding new board members.

Geoffrey Chambers, QCGN vice-president, denied reports it had been working with Barrette to reshape the MUHC, though he acknowledged members of the community group had met with the Health Ministry in recent months.

He added that it was time for a change of leadershp at the hospital.

"Unfortunately, it did get to the point where there was a lack of trust between the institution and the ministry," he said.

Glenn Rourke, one of the board members who stepped down, said he's concerned about the group's relationship with Barrette.

He questioned whether the new board members will be adequately equipped to handle the challenges facing the MUHC.

"To replace the board in a short period of time without going through due process is a recipe for disaster," Rourkesaid.

• Couillard talks Anglos, MUHC mergers and separatism