Three head physicians with western Quebec's health authority have resigned their posts in response to controversial new legislation that will change doctors' pay, Radio-Canada has learned.

"I hope to be able to continue providing public health care to the people of Quebec, but for now ... it seems I will have to look to Ontario and other regions," wrote Dr. Trevor Hennessey, one of the three who've resigned.

Bill 2 links some of Quebec doctors' compensation to the number of patients they care for, among other changes. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé told CBC last week that the goal is to "ensure the population has access to the services it needs."

But some experts say it won't actually help patients see a doctor faster, and backlash over the changes has been swift.

Twenty-five Quebec family doctors have already said they will leave public care, according to a federation representing medical specialists which is filing a lawsuit against the government.

Now, these three head doctors at the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) have told Radio-Canada they've resigned:

WATCH | Fear of mass exodus of doctors in the Outaouais:

In a letter signed by Bégin and obtained by Radio-Canada, Bégin wrote that Bill 2 goes "directly against [his] personal, professional and political values."

He also wrote that he was concerned new recruits expected in the summer will not want to practice medicine in the Outaouais because of Bill 2.

"It is extremely unfortunate because with the core of my resilient, competent, professional colleagues ... I was confident of turning around the situation in surgery at the CISSSO," he wrote.

The CISSSO told Radio-Canada that the resignation would not cause any disruption to surgeries or services.

Law is 'disrespectful'

Pongui told Radio-Canada that the new law is "disrespectful" to doctors and he could not work under it.

"Currently, doctors bear the brunt of the dysfunctional system we have," Poungui said in a French-language interview.

"When there's no respect at the table, you have to leave the table."

He added that he is concerned that leaving his post will have consequences for western Quebec patients as department heads are the "interface between the administration and the public service."

While Poungui will still remain on staff as a specialist physician, he said he's considering leaving that role as well.

Government has 'finally won'

For Hennessey, Bill 2 — and the health minister's responses to his questions about it — was the final straw in a long career, as he explained in his resignation letter and a short public statement posted online.

"For 16 years I have been working in the CISSSO and trying to improve the situation," he wrote.

"[We've been] struggling time and time again to have the government listen to us and our needs so we can provide the care to the population that they deserve. We have been ignored time and time again."

On some days, the health authority's trauma hospital has been reduced to using just one of its five operating rooms due to a shortage of nurses, according to Hennessey.

The provincial government should put up a full-time representative to help resolve issues like that, he added in his resignation letter.

"They've broken me," Hennessey told CBC. "For my personal health and my family's health, I need to just move on to the next phase of my career."

His last day of work will be Dec. 31, one day before the law takes affect.

Maude Marquis-Bissonnette has been re-elected as mayor of Gatineau, Que.

Marquis-Bissonnette, the leader of Action Gatineau, received 51.14 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s municipal election, defeating Mario Aubé of the Équipe Mario Aubé, who received 47 per cent of the vote. Rémi Bergeron finished third, with 1.87 per cent of the vote.

Marquis-Bissonnette was first elected mayor of Gatineau in June 2024, winning a byelection to replace France Bélisle.

“I want to thank every citizen in Gatineau for their trust in myself and my team as well. I feel honored, I feel touched. I’m already back to work. Today I’m reaching out to our city counselors to make sure that we all work together to keep moving forward,” she said.

Aube was the former councillor of Masson-Angers.

According to results published by the City of Gatineau on Monday morning, Marquis-Bissonnette’s Action Gatineau party won a majority of the 19 councillor seats for the new term. Action Gatineau won 11 districts, while Équipe Mario Aubé won seven seats, and Independent Edmond Leclerc was re-elected in Buckingham.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe congratulated Marquis-Bissonnette on her election victory.

“Maude, I’m grateful for our strong, collaborative partnership and I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely together to grow our regional economy, establish Ottawa-Gatineau as Canada’s defence innovation hub, improve transit and transportation, and bring tourists and events to the capital,” Sutcliffe said Monday morning.

Marquis-Bissonnette said she hopes to continue to have a strong working relationship with Sutcliffe.

“We’re one economic region. We have shared issues, when we talk about transportation or economic issues. I certainly want to work with Mark Sutcliffe as we did in the past months.”

According to official results published Monday afternoon, Marquis-Bissonnette received 41,569 votes.

Voter turnout in the Gatineau election was 40.27 per cent, officially, up from 35 per cent in 2021.

Elected councillors in Gatineau

District d’Aylmer (1): Vincent Roy – Action Gatineau: 2,298 votes (64.62 per cent)

District de Lucerne (2): Sonia Ben-Arfa – Action Gatineau: 2,457 votes (57.33 per cent)

District de Deschênes (3): Caroline Murray – Action Gatineau: 2,665 votes (67.45 per cent)

District du Plateau (4): Bettyna Bélizaire – Action Gatineau: 3,029 votes (68.92 per cent)

District de Mitigomijokan (5): Rachel M. Deslauriers – Action Gatineau: 2,244 votes (56.17 per cent)

District du Manoir-des-Trembles–Val-Tétreau (6): Adrian Corbo – Action Gatineau: 2,889 votes (72.62 per cent)

District de Hull–Wright (7): Steve Moran – Action Gatineau: 1,904 votes (62.51 per cent)

District du Parc-de-la-Montagne–Saint-Raymond (8): Isabelle Cousineau – Action Gatineau: 1,826 votes (49.28 per cent)

District de l’Orée-du-Parc (9): Isabelle N. Miron – Action Gatineau: 2,576 votes (56.64 per cent)

District de Limbour (10): Julie Bélisle – Équipe Mario Aubé: 3,020 votes (51.66 per cent)

District de Touraine (11): Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent – Action Gatineau: 2,068 votes (51.18 per cent)

District de Pointe-Gatineau (12): Marc Carrière – Équipe Mario Aubé: 1,612 votes (51.04 per cent)

District du Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital (13): Catherine Craig-St-Louis – Action Gatineau: 2,319 votes (54.97 per cent)

District du Versant (14): Luc Chénier – Équipe Mario Aubé: 2,916 votes (57.42 per cent)

District de Bellevue (15): Chloé Bourgeois – Équipe Mario Aubé: 2,891 votes (56.92 per cent)

District du Lac-Beauchamp (16): Timmy Jutras – Équipe Mario Aubé: 2,122 votes (57.10 per cent)

District de la Rivière-Blanche (17): Jean Lessard – Équipe Mario Aubé: 3,266 votes (68.34 per cent)

District de Masson-Angers (18): Michael Korhonen – Équipe Mario Aubé: 3,774 votes (80.42 per cent)

District de Buckingham (19): Edmond Leclerc: 2,874 votes (60.81 per cent)

Cantley, Que.

Nathalie Belisle is the new mayor of Cantley.

Belisle received 45 per cent of the vote, defeating incumbent David Gomes.

Chelsea, Que.

Brian Nolan is the new mayor of Chelsea, defeating incumbent Pierre Guénard.

Nolan received 62.26 per cent of the vote.

Fort Coulonge

Pierre Cyr was elected mayor, with 59 per cent of the vote.

Gracefield

Mathieu Caron was re-elected mayor, with 67 per cent of the vote.

La Peche

Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux ran unopposed in the election.

Low

Patrick Beaustry is the new mayor of Low. Beaudry received 60.6 per cent of the vote to defeat incumbent Robert Beaudry.

Maniwaki

Louis-André Hubert is the new mayor of Maniwaki. Hubert received 35 per cent of the vote, defeating incumbent Francine Fortine.

Montebello

Martin Deschênes was acclaimed the mayor of Montebello.

Pontiac

Mayor Roger Larose was re-elected, running unopposed in the municipal election.

Shawville

Mayor William McCleary was re-elected in Shawville.

McCleary received 65.96 per cent of the vote, defeating Linda Davis.

Thurso

Mélanie Boyer was re-elected mayor of Thurso.

Boyer received 66 per cent of the vote to defeat Michel Labrecque.

Val-des-Bois

Clément Larocque has been re-elected mayor of Val-des Bois, receiving 63 per cent of the vote.

Val-des-Monts

Joëlle Gauthier is the new mayor of Val-des-Monts.

Gauthier received 56.59 per cent of the vote to defeat Chantal Renaud.

Outgoing mayor Jules Dagenais did not seek re-election.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Camille Wilson

Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg has filed a land title claim against the Quebec and Canadian governments, one that encompasses large swaths of land in western Quebec.

Part of the claim is intended to protect the interests of future generations of members of the western Quebec First Nation, said Chief Jean-Guy Whiteduck.

“We want to protect the resources, make sure they're managed in a sustainable way that everyone benefits, today and into the future,” Whiteduck told CBC

The title claim was filed in Quebec Superior Court on Oct. 24. It includes a $5-billion lawsuit over alleged violations of constitutionally protected rights by the Canadian and Quebec governments and Hydro-Québec, according to a press release from the First Nation.

“It’s a reasonable number, based on other similar types of cases and just given the area of the land at issue and the nature of the breaches of rights that have occurred,” said Julian Riddell, a lawyer representing Kitigan Zibi in the case.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has also been named as a defendant in the case.

Includes reservoir, Ottawa River islands

The title claim encompasses eight main areas, including Gatineau Park, the Baskatong Reservoir, and the Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve. It also covers several islands in the Ottawa River, including Morris and Kettle Islands.

Whiteduck says Kitigan Zibi never relinquished these lands.

The claim isn't meant to affect private citizens who own property in the land in question, Whiteduck said.

“Eventually, if the whole Algonquin territory is involved, there will be many private owners on it. I think it’s something that can be resolved at the negotiation table that’s fair to the fee simple owners,” Whiteduck said.

“It’s not to take anything away from them.”

Could set precedent, says lawyer

The title claim is largely centred on the 1760 Treaty of Swegatchy between the British government and the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation and the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

The Treaty of Swegatchy promised the protection of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation’s lands and way of life, according to documents included in the court filing.

As part of the case, Kitigan Zibi claims the transfer of control over Gatineau Park to the NCC by the Canadian government was in direct contravention of both the treaty and the Royal Proclamation.

Moreover, court filings also claim the Quebec government violated these accords in authorizing the construction of the Mercier hydroelectric dam, as well as the creation of the Baskatong Reservoir in 1927.

The reservoir led to the flooding of lands previously under the control of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, an ancestor of Kitigan Zibi.

Riddell says the title claim has the potential to set a precedent in Quebec as the first successful Indigenous title case in the province.

“The case also has a historic treaty aspect to it,” Riddell said. “[It] is relying on those agreements and promises, which has been done to some extent in other cases, but these particular issues have never been addressed.”

Comes after B.C. victory

In the past, the Quebec government has refused to negotiate with Kitigan Zibi over claims to their ancestral territories, Whiteduck said.

The recent land claim victory by the Quw’utsun Nation in August — in which the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled the First Nation ad a right to over 300 hectares of land in Richmond, B.C. — inspired the filing of Kitigan Zibi’s own land claim case, he added.

Kitigan Zibi previously filed a separate land claim case in 2016 in Ontario over lands encompassing Parliament Hill and Lebreton Flats, alongside a trio of islands in the Ottawa River.

Neither the Quebec nor the federal government provided comment to CBC News regarding the case prior to publication. The NCC said Friday it's reviewing the matter with its partners.

In an email, a spokesperson for Hydro-Québec said the corporation is not in a position to comment as the case is not yet before the court.

Whiteduck said he hopes the land claim case will result in an agreement between Kitigan Zibi and the Canadian and Quebec governments over how to share resources and how to develop the First Nation’s ancestral lands.

"We're looking [out] for the welfare of our people and to have our regular place on our homeland," he said. "That's the main message."

The municipal election campaign is officially underway in Gatineau, Que., with communities across the province preparing to head to the polls on Nov. 2.

In Gatineau, two political parties are going head-to-head.

Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette with Action Gatineau is seeking a second term, while Team Mario Aubé — a new party — will be challenging her.

Marquis-Bissonnette took office in June 2024, winning the by-election held after the unexpected resignation of France Bélisle months before.

"We've done a lot in 15 months, almost. I think we said that we would find solutions for problems we had in Gatineau, [and] that's what we did," she said Friday.

"We need to do more as well, to make sure that we leave no one behind, that we remain a very inclusive city."

Marquis-Bissonnette said while the housing crisis, homelessness and infrastructure — specifically roadways — are her top priorities, the financing to find solutions are limited.

"We will be campaigning, there proposing solutions, talking about our ideas… meeting people directly. I've been doing that since I was elected mayor and I will [continue doing] that."

Aubé, the current councillor for the Masson-Angers district in the city's east end, is also making a mayoral bid.

After spending decades working in the media industry, Aubé has "chosen to take a more active role in politics," according to his party's website.

Aubé said he plans to focus on the "basic things" in Gatineau as he campaigns over the next month-plus.

"Snow plowing [and] garbage, the state of the road …we have to take care of our infrastructure in Gatineau," Aubé said.

About 8,000 municipal positions will be up for election on Nov. 2 in some 1,100 municipalities, according to Quebec government data.

Candidates seeking to run for office have until Oct. 3 to submit their applications.

Advance voting will take place on Oct. 26, one week before election day.

Municipal workers in Gatineau are repairing multiple water main breaks that have closed the Canadian Museum of History and left 3,000 people under a boil water advisory.

The ruptures include two burst pipes on Laurier Street on Tuesday and another significant leak on Wednesday.

The boil water advisory affects some 3,000 people, including residents, businesses and some federal government buildings, a spokesperson for the City of Gatineau told CBC.

The incidents forced the closure of multiple buildings in Hull, including the museum and the Outaouais tourism office.

"While we do plan to reopen our doors once water service has been reestablished, we do not have a timeline at this time for when the work will be completed," Canadian Museum of History spokesperson Stephanie Verner told CBC in an email.

Aging infrastructure

Gatineau public works department director Yvon Desjardins says crews were doing routine work in the area this week which involved shutting some valves.

This increased pressure in the water pipes, some of which eventually burst.

"There was an open valve that wasn't well indicated on our plans, it's what caused [it], but there shouldn't have been a water main break," he said.

"It may be corrosion in the pipes, we are still investigating," he said.

The water pipes on Laurier Street date back to 1971.

"They are 54 years old," said Desjardins. "They're underground, so there is definitely some corrosion."

Experts say other factors may have contributed to the water main breaks.

"It's very difficult to do maintenance work in the area, a busy street has to be cut off and dug up, it's a really expensive process," said Yannick Hemond, professor at Université du Québec à Montréal.

Other infrastructure, like gas pipes and hydro lines, run near the water main — which added time and complexity to the repairs.

Ahead of the official start of the Gatineau municipal election campaign on Friday, mayoral candidate Mario Aubé held a press conference on Thursday at the site of the water main breaks, vowing to do more to improve the city's aging infrastructure if elected.

Among other campaign promises, he pledged to renovate the Maison du Citoyen instead of demolishing it.