2026-04-04 from cbc.ca

As the health authority in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region pushes for official bilingual status for its southernmost health facilities to improve access for English speakers, residents say bigger accessibility issues stem from a policy change implemented last year that created a barrier to accessing health care in Ontario.

For years, many relied on hospitals in nearby North Bay, Ont., for faster access to tests, specialists and follow-up care. But that cross-border access has been cut off, forcing patients to seek services deeper within Quebec and often hours away.

The change is the result of a shift in Quebec’s billing policies. As of Aug. 1, 2025, the province — through regional health authorities like the CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue — stopped acting as an intermediary between Quebec’s public health insurance board and doctors for medical services provided by Ontario doctors. 

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