A stronger front line that is closer to the people of Quebec
Lac-Mégantic, September 17, 2026 — The leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Charles Milliard, has pledged to strengthen community outreach teams and make CLSCs true hubs for Quebecers in their communities.
This additional $200 million investment in front-line care will strengthen the healthcare and social services teams in CLSCs and improve community-based services, particularly in the areas of mental health, psychosocial support, and prevention. CLSCs will also be able to better tailor their services to the needs of their communities and strengthen their ties with community organizations and other local resources.
The Quebec Liberal Party believes that Quebecers should not have to navigate the system on their own when they need help. Anyone who needs care, mental health support, social services, or simply guidance can count on their CLSC as a point of contact. Their needs will be assessed there, and they will be referred to the right professional, service, or resource.
When the answer lies elsewhere, the CLSC team will remain the patient’s point of contact and will be able to refer them to the specialized services or community resources they need, in order to ensure greater continuity in their care journey. This approach is consistent with the guidelines formulated by experts working on the front lines, who recommend strengthening local governance, interprofessional teams, and ties with community partners.
A system built around the patient, for the patient
This new approach to primary care will also be based on better collaboration among healthcare professionals and with patients. The Quebec Liberal Party wants to recognize patients as full partners in their care journey and better incorporate their experiences into the improvement of services.
In conjunction with the rollout of a public telehealth platform, this measure also aims to reduce pressure on emergency departments by offering more front-line solutions. Whether they can be treated remotely when their condition allows it or referred by their CLSC to the appropriate professional or service, patients must be able to receive a response tailored to their needs without having to resort to the emergency room as their only option.
More details
Making the CLSC the cornerstone of health care in our communities: Quebecers will be able to count on a local health and social services team affiliated with their CLSC, which will work in collaboration with community organizations and other resources in their area.
When someone needs care, psychosocial support, mental health services, or simply someone to turn to, they can count on their CLSC as a point of reference in their community. Working in tandem with telehealth and other primary care services, the CLSC will assess their needs, refer them to the appropriate professional or resource, and support them throughout their care journey.
Recognizing the patient as a full partner in their care journey: A liberal government will promote a culture of shared decision-making in which patients have the information, tools, and support they need to understand their options, express their priorities, and actively participate in decisions about their health.
This approach will be particularly important for people living with a chronic illness or with complex needs, for whom continuity of care and coordination among different healthcare professionals are essential.
Enable every professional to fully utilize their expertise: We will continue to modernize professional practices and promote interdisciplinary teamwork so that every professional can fully utilize their skills and every patient can be cared for by the professional best suited to meet their needs.
Freeing up time for patients: We will leverage digital technologies and artificial intelligence to help professionals reduce the time spent on administrative tasks that can be streamlined or automated.
“When we need care or support, we should know where to go and be able to count on someone to guide us. It’s as simple as that. We want the CLSC to once again become that local hub close to home, whether for our physical health, mental health, or social services. With an additional $200 million for front-line care, we’ll strengthen community-based teams to build services around patients, rather than asking them to navigate the system on their own.”
— Charles Milliard, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
