Camille Arsenault experienced the onset of labor at her residence in Gaspésie, Quebec, prompting her to head to the local hospital for the birth of her daughter, Olivia. Upon arrival at the Hôpital de Maria with her partner, they were informed of a staffing shortage, leading to a two-hour wait in an ambulance before being transferred to the Hôpital de Chandler, over 130 kilometers away. Despite being forewarned about the potential transfer a week earlier, Arsenault expressed concerns about the situation, emphasizing the impact of being far from home and family.
Arsenault’s case reflects a broader issue affecting pregnant women in eastern Quebec, where obstetrics units have faced temporary closures due to staffing challenges. Particularly in the Gaspé region, including Haute-Gaspésie, the situation has worsened over the past year. In 2025, the Hôpital de Sainte-Anne-des-Monts was shut down for 133 days, a significant increase from the previous year’s 27 days. This forced women from the hospital to travel to Matane, located about an hour away, for maternity services.
Jean St-Pierre, the deputy executive director of CISSS de la Gaspésie, highlighted the staffing issues in the region, indicating that only one full-time obstetrics nurse is available, with five positions yet to be filled. Despite efforts to address the situation through private agencies and additional nursing support, ongoing closures are expected, with the obstetrics unit likely shutting down every other week in the upcoming months.
The limited number of births at the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts hospital has led to challenges in retaining specialized obstetrics nurses, with some opting for larger facilities with more consistent birth rates. Véronique Ouellette, co-director of Maison des Familles Haute-Gaspésie, expressed concerns about the strain on the lone nurse managing the department, leading to instances of inexperienced staff handling childbirth in emergency room settings.
In addition to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, other hospitals in the Gaspé region, such as Hôpital de Gaspé and Maria, have also faced obstetrics unit closures and service disruptions. Despite recruitment efforts and consultations with other regions, the CISSS has struggled to find a sustainable solution to the staffing challenges, raising doubts about the future of obstetrics services in the area.
Joël Arseneau, the Parti-Québécois health critic representing the Magdalen Islands, has criticized the government for neglecting obstetrics resources in eastern Quebec, labeling the treatment of Gaspé women as “second-class citizens.” Health Minister Sonia Bélanger declined to comment on the matter, acknowledging the system’s shortcomings and ongoing efforts to review the organization of obstetrics services in the province.