2026-04-13 — Daily report — Quebec emergency rooms show a downward trend in occupancy to 79%, though critical overcrowding persists in Laval and Montreal centers.

Key Takeaways

•Average stretcher occupancy across Quebec is at 79%, representing a significant 14-point decrease since April 1st.

•Laval and Laurentides are experiencing the highest regional pressure with occupancy rates of 143% and 134% respectively.

•Montreal-area facilities like CHUM and Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne remain the busiest with 35 patients waiting each.

Data from urgencesquebec.com on April 13, 2026, indicates a general stabilization of emergency department services across the province compared to earlier this month. The number of patients waiting has decreased from 1,795 on April 1st to 1,263, while the provincial stretcher occupancy rate has dropped to 79%. Despite this overall improvement, critical congestion persists in several urban centers, with five facilities reporting more than 30 patients waiting simultaneously.

Regional disparities remain stark. While rural areas like Nord-du-Québec and Gaspésie report low occupancy (50% and 36%), metabolic pressure remains extreme in Laval (143%), Laurentides (134%), and Montréal (116%). The Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) highlights these challenges, operating at 167% stretcher capacity while managing the highest volume of patients in the province.