Santé Québec board chair Christiane Germain steps down

Santé Québec board chair Christiane Germain steps down

Serving as agency's first board chair 'an exceptional privilege,' says Germain

The provincial agency responsible for overseeing Quebec's health-care system will soon be under new board leadership.

Prominent entrepreneur Christiane Germain is stepping down as chair of Santé Québec's board of directors. Her last day will be Oct. 30, 2026. The agency made the announcement in a news release on Tuesday.

"When I accepted this mandate, I did so with enthusiasm because I believed deeply in the importance of building this new institution. I approached this mandate with the entrepreneurial spirit that characterizes me," Germain, who co-founded Germain Hotels, wrote.

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Germain was the agency's first board chair, after its creation in 2023 when the Quebec government adopted sweeping health-care reform legislation, Bill 15.

"I'm convinced that today, Santé Québec possesses solid foundations and an exceptional team capable of continuing the work already begun. It's precisely because we've reached this important step that I feel the moment has come for me to pass on the torch," Germain said.

The news of Germain's departure was met with support and praise for her contributions to the agency from Santé Québec's CEO Geneviève Biron and Health Minister Sonia Bélanger.

"Beginnings are often the most challenging. [Germain] chose to take part at this pivotal moment to help lay the foundations of this new agency," Bélanger wrote in a social media post, adding "Quebec owes her a great deal."

But Germain's time as chair was also marked by some controversy.

She was first named to the board in May 2024, along with 14 other members, by former health minister Christian Dubé. Some of those members were also well known public figures, including former MP Diane Lamarre and doctors Stanley Vollant and David Lussier.

But some criticized Germain's appointment, calling it partisan.

Among the critics was Parti Québécois MP Pascal Bérubé, who claimed Germain was an acquaintance of then premier François Legault, and called her "one of the founding members of the Coalition Avenir Québec."

Dubé defended his government from accusations of partisan appointments, noting that Lamarre is a former Parti Québécois MP.

Last March, Germain was called out for 'liking' a post on Instagram shared by Quebec's minister of culture and communications, Mathieu Lacombe, that promoted Christine Fréchette's candidacy as the next leader of the CAQ, despite her mandate to remain partisan.

Germain apologized at the time, saying she acted on impulse and didn't watch the entire video.

In the announcement of her departure from the board, Germain said helping to launch Santé Québec "was an exceptional privilege that few people have the chance to experience in their career."

Written by Anchal Sharma, based on reporting by Radio-Canada's Jérôme Labbé