Quebec Reaches Tentative Agreement With More Than 300 Midwives Through 2030

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published September 7, 2026

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The Quebec government has reached a new tentative agreement with the Regroupement Les sages-femmes du Québec (RSFQ), covering more than 300 midwives working across the province’s health and social services network.

The agreement, announced by the Quebec government on the evening of Friday, September 4, spans six years, covering the period from the expiry of the previous collective agreement in 2024 through 2030.

The provincial government said the tentative deal is intended to improve working conditions, support the retention and development of midwifery expertise, and improve access to services, particularly prenatal and childbirth care.

The specific terms of the agreement, including any changes to compensation, premiums or other working conditions, have not yet been made public. RSFQ members must first vote on the agreement, and The Canadian Press reported that its details will remain confidential until that process is completed.

Among the issues midwives had raised during negotiations were premiums related to attending births and additional compensation for the responsibilities assumed by midwifery service heads. The tentative agreement does not yet confirm which of those demands were accepted or in what form.

Access to midwifery services across different regions of Quebec had also been among the RSFQ’s concerns during negotiations.

Midwives are recognized health professionals in Quebec and provide care from the beginning of pregnancy through childbirth and up to six weeks after birth.

People receiving midwifery care in Quebec may give birth at a birth centre, at home or in a hospital, depending on available services and individual circumstances. Agreements between midwifery services and hospitals are also in place to provide appropriate transfers when emergency medical care is required.

The RSFQ represents more than 300 members working across approximately 20 health institutions in Quebec. The tentative agreement will remain subject to a membership vote before it can be finalized and its full terms released.