Quebec's doctors have come out in support of the province's nurses with the region's biggest nurses union finding the backing of both the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec and the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec in its quest for better working conditions.

The union claims that shortage of nurses in the region has led to overcrowding in the emergency rooms and lack of beds in the intensive care units which are indirectly to be blamed for the string of emergency room deaths.

This claim has been refuted by top Government representatives with Karin Rivard, press attaché to provincial Health Minister Yves Bolduc, stating that the Quebec nurses have had no better ally than the governing Liberal party. "I'm not saying there's not more to do, that's coming gradually. There are discussions now at the negotiating table over work hours and how to optimize care despite the manpower shortage".

A 3.75 per cent increase in salary, bonuses for night shifts and weekend work, a four day week in exchange for a longer work day and no forced overtime are the demands being listed by the union.