Update regarding the demonstrations taking place in Ottawa

Ottawa, January 31, 2022 - The situation regarding commute in relation to the demonstrations in Ottawa is changing by the hour. We are using our intranet and social media (Facebook and Twitter) to keep Montfort staff informed whenever we receive an update from local authorities on detours to take.  However, because the situation changes so often, they do not always receive the information in a timely manner.

Traffic challenges are a concern,

• For the 45% of Montfort staff members who live in Quebec;
• For all staff members who face traffic congestion to get to work or home;
• For staff members who have to stay longer at the end of a shift to wait for their colleagues who are delayed by traffic;
• And for our patients, including mothers who are about to give birth, people with appointments for tests, etc.

We also know that for many people across the region, the situation generates anxiety, due to travel restrictions, constant noise, etc.

We remind everyone that the hospital is open and operating as usual, and we encourage those in need of urgent health care to not wait and to go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

We thank our staff for their flexibility in these exceptional circumstances, and for their dedication to providing the best care for our patients.

In conclusion, we recognize the right to free expression.  We consider that the demonstrators have succeeded in getting their messages across and we hope that things will return to normal as soon as possible.