The week ending April 13, 2026, saw a notable increase in the burden on Quebec's emergency departments. While the total number of patients physically in the ER remained relatively stable (increasing by only 7 individuals), the number of patients waiting to see a physician jumped significantly from 1,355 at the start of the week to 1,491. This suggests a growing bottleneck in the initial triage and consultation phases, with average stretcher occupancy across the province climbing from 73% to 79%.
Regional disparities remain stark, particularly in the Greater Montréal area and its periphery. The Laurentides region is currently the province's primary pressure point, reporting a critical stretcher occupancy rate of 133%. Laval and Montérégie are also operating well above capacity, both exceeding 100% stretcher occupancy. In contrast, eastern and northern regions such as Bas-Saint-Laurent (42%) and Nord-du-Québec (67%) continue to report manageable volumes, highlighting a persistent urban-rural divide in healthcare resource demand.
Individual facility data underscores the severity of the situation in high-density areas. Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne is the busiest in the province with 75 patients waiting, while Hôpital de Saint-Eustache is facing extreme overcrowding with a 140% stretcher occupancy rate. Other notable high-pressure sites include Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval and Hôpital Pierre-Le Gardeur in Lanaudière. These figures indicate that the suburban belts around Montréal are currently bearing the brunt of the province's emergency care demand.