Nearly one in five CLSC buildings owned by Santé Québec is currently in poor or very poor condition, according to a recent assessment completed in November 2025. This infrastructure deficit hinders the government's goal of establishing these community health centers as the primary entry point for the public health network.
Infrastructure decay in Montreal and Laval
The state-owned audit, which covers approximately 150 buildings across 110 CLSCs, reveals that facilities in the Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal region, including the CLSC d’Ahuntsic and the CLSC de La Petite-Patrie, are rated as being in poor condition. Isabelle Roy, president of the Syndicat des professionnelles en soins du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, reported that staff at the Ahuntsic site have filed weekly reports regarding pests in vaccination rooms throughout the summer.
The situation is reportedly more severe at the CLSC du Ruisseau-Papineau in Laval, which is housed in an 1862 former convent. It is one of three facilities currently holding the lowest possible rating, signifying a very poor state of repair. Karine Miousse, president of the local union affiliated with the CSQ, stated that indoor temperatures have reached 27 degrees Celsius during the summer months.
Did You Know? The public health network in Quebec consists of 318 CLSCs in total, though the recent technical audit by Santé Québec only includes the roughly 150 buildings owned by the state, excluding those leased from third-party landlords.
Staff shortages and organizational silos affect CLSC operations
Émilie Charbonneau of the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux noted that CLSCs have historically been neglected through successive reforms, leading to current staff shortages.
Dr. Philippe Melanson, president of the Association des médecins de CLSC du Québec, stated that some physicians are being displaced from their own offices to accommodate new services or specialized nursing clinics. He expressed concern that the current organizational structure creates fragmented “silos” within the same buildings, where different teams often operate using incompatible software.
Maintenance funding and community-based partnerships for integration
Santé Québec maintains that the infrastructure rating alone does not determine the quality or safety of the services provided, noting that facilities receive annual funds for maintenance and renovations.
Dr. Melanson suggested that successful integration may require a shift toward community-based partnerships, citing a recent initiative in Saint-Donat.
Why CLSC audits exclude leased buildings and operational concerns
Why is it impossible to know the condition of every CLSC?
The recent audit only includes the 150 buildings owned by Santé Québec. The state of the remaining CLSC buildings, which are leased from third-party owners, was not captured in this specific technical assessment.
What are the primary concerns regarding current CLSC operations?
Staff report significant issues including pest infestations, failing backup generators, and extreme indoor temperatures. Doctors also report a lack of space and fragmented internal organization that prevents teams from working effectively as a single unit.
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