Like many public organizations such as municipalities and school service centers, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) recently unveiled its annual financial report for the year ending March 31, 2024. The report shows an operating deficit of $106,129,940. 

The 577-page document can be consulted in its entirety on the website of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. 

A perusal of the document reveals revenues of $1,276,444,129. Of this amount, the largest contribution came from the MSSS, at $1,179,511,363. Expenses totaled $1,382,574,069. The main financial expenses were as follow: 

1) Salaries, benefits and payroll taxes: $942,811,972; 

2) ) Other expenses: $165,639,066;

3) Fees paid to non-institutional resources: $113,450,708; 

What factors are responsible for the deficit? "It is essentially attributable to the increase in home support hours and the use of independent labour.It should be noted that the deficit amount concerns only the last fiscal year, i.e. 2023-2024. Remember that the Act limiting the use of personnel placement agencies and independent labour in the health and social services sector will come into force in October 2024," CISSSMO's Communications and Public Affairs Department told Neomedia by e-mail. 

Will measures be put in place to reduce this deficit over the next few years? "In addition to ongoing efforts to be more efficient, measures to mitigate the use of independent labour are being implemented, and we are already noting a significant drop (more than 50% drop in average hours per day) between the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024 and June 2024. We are confident that this will continue," we add. 

Finally, will the MSSS come to the CISSSMO's aid to make up this financial shortfall? "For certain elements of the deficit related to MSSS requirements, we are in discussions with the ministry to receive assistance," we conclude.