Report says wait times in Quebec emergency rooms were 11 minutes shorter last year

A recent report from the Montreal Economic Institute reveals a slight improvement in emergency room wait times across Quebec. Last year, the average wait time for patients in Quebec's ERs was five hours and 12 minutes, an 11-minute reduction compared to the previous year.

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This represents an 11-minute improvement from wait times the previous year.

Renaud Brossard, a spokesperson for the institute, described the improvement as a step in the "right direction, albeit a small one." The report highlights regional disparities, with Laval, the Laurentians, the Montérégie, and Montreal experiencing the longest waits, where median times range between six and eight hours.

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It's a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.

According to the report, a shortage of personnel is identified as the primary cause of these extended wait times. Brossard noted, "We wait a very, very long time to see a doctor, but once we do see one, we're treated quickly and can leave." He suggested this indicates a potential bottleneck in treatment capacity within the emergency rooms themselves.

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We wait a very, very long time to see a doctor, but once we do see one, we're treated quickly and can leave.

The report, published on August 20, 2026, follows previous coverage indicating Quebec had the longest ER wait times in Canada as of June 3, 2025. While the recent data shows a marginal decrease, the overall wait times remain a significant concern for healthcare access in the province.

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This suggests that there may be a lack of treatment capacity in the emergency room itself.