The citizens’ panel report from the États généraux on midwifery practice has just been released — and the message is clear: yes to equitable, high-quality access to midwifery services for all those concerned in Quebec.
This panel of 16 individuals from diverse backgrounds — most of whom had little or no prior knowledge of midwifery — dove deep into the topic… and emerged convinced.
In 2025, midwifery remains widely misunderstood. This lack of visibility continues to fuel prejudice, hesitation, and mistrust — even within the healthcare system.
To address this, the panel proposes concrete and ambitious solutions:
Raise awareness and inform the public:
– Launch a national awareness campaign about midwifery care
– Share powerful testimonials and create interactive spaces for open dialogue
– Distribute accessible educational materials in everyday spaces: CLSCs, schools, pharmacies, youth centres, etc.
– Integrate midwifery into sex education starting in high school
The Mouvement pour l’autonomie dans l’enfantement welcomes this thoughtful and committed opinion. It confirms what we have been advocating for years: all women and pregnant people should be free to choose their care provider and place of birth — with full autonomy and real options.
Read the full report: https://inm.qc.ca/sage-femme
This report is part of a wider consultation process led by the Institut du Nouveau Monde, with support from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as part of the Perinatal and Early Childhood Action Plan (PAPPE).
Like the surveys of service users and midwives, this opinion is a valuable tool to inform discussions ahead of the upcoming summit.
Please note: The summit, originally scheduled for June, has been postponed to the fall — a message the MSSS has asked us to share.
For the Mouvement, holding this summit remains essential to make sense of the findings from the surveys, the citizens’ panel, and lived experiences.
We are calling for long-term, meaningful action — with the full participation of service users, midwives, healthcare professionals, doulas, and civil society.
