Quebec's emergency rooms showed slight stabilization throughout the day on May 21, 2026, with the total number of patients in the ER decreasing from 3,861 to 3,829. According to urgencesquebec.com historical data, overall stretcher occupancy improved slightly from an early peak of 97% down to 92% by the latest snapshot. Despite this marginal provincial improvement, several regions remain under significant pressure, particularly the Laurentides and Chaudière-Appalaches, which are operating well above 130% occupancy.
Regional disparities are stark; while the Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec region reported no wait times, urban centers like Montreal and Montérégie continue to handle the bulk of the province's volume. Individual facilities such as Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval are struggling with extreme stretcher saturation at 184%, highlighting ongoing resource strain in high-density areas.