Quebec's controversial mental health bill expands involuntary hospitalisation powers

Quebec's government has introduced a new bill to change how people in mental health crises are hospitalised against their will. The proposal comes after high-profile tragedies, including the killing of a police officer and a fatal attack at a Montreal convenience store. Officials say the current rules are too strict and need updating. The existing law, Bill P-38 from 1998, only allows involuntary hospitalisation if someone poses a 'serious and immediate' danger. Minister of Health Sonia Bélanger's Bill 23 would widen this to include situations where there is a broader 'danger' to the person or others. This means someone whose mental health is worsening—but not yet an urgent threat—could be held for up to seven days.

Police will first need approval from a crisis intervention worker before acting. If hospitalisation extends beyond a week, the case must go to Quebec's Administrative Tribunal. The government has also allocated $104.4 million over five years to reform the system and improve mental health support.

Around 4,000 to 5,000 people are involuntarily admitted to psychiatric units in Quebec each year under the current law. The new bill would also let those with diagnosed mental health conditions create advance plans for future crises.

Premier François Legault argued that the state must sometimes force treatment on those who refuse it. The government's parliamentary leader, Simon Jolin-Barrette, expects the bill to pass before the legislative session ends on June 12. The proposed changes follow years of debate over how Quebec handles mental health emergencies. If approved, the law would give authorities more power to intervene before a crisis becomes life-threatening. The reforms would also introduce stricter oversight for longer hospital stays.