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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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March 2026
Lack of gynecological access highlights gaps in Quebec women’s
healthcare
(GIF) article photo
By Dimitri Papadopoulos
The deep reverence for family and the matriarchs who anchor the
household remains a cornerstone of the Hellenic diaspora in
Montreal. Within this cultural framework, the physical well-being of
women from youth through their golden years commands profound
respect and attention, serving as the bedrock for preserving the
Greek language and heritage across generations. This vital aspect of
family life recently echoed through the legislative chambers in
Quebec City, where a concentrated political effort has emerged to
address the biological realities of women. The ensuing debate
highlights a significant legislative push to establish comprehensive
healthcare frameworks for hormonal health, the political challenges
encountered on the parliamentary floor, and the ongoing endeavor to
draft binding legislation.
Standing in the red chamber of the National Assembly, wearing a dark
blazer, a patterned blouse, and her signature glasses, the Member of
National Assembly for Chomedey, Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, addressed her
colleagues to introduce a formal motion. The legislative proposal asked
the assembly to recognize that hormonal realities linked notably to
menstruation and menopause can lead to important impacts on the physical
health, mental health, and quality of life of women. The politician
asked the provincial government to begin work on establishing a national
policy on women's health. She read from her official press release that
women represent half of the population, and yet their hormonal health
remains a blind spot in public policy. Following the provincial
elections of 2022, 58 women were elected to the legislature,
representing 46.4 per cent of all members. By 2025, women occupy 41 per
cent of the positions in the Council of Ministers.
Publications like The Montreal Greek Times play a critical role in
preserving regional Greek culture for future generations, organizing
community initiatives, and strengthening Hellenic identity abroad
through civic awareness. The health of the women in the community is
intrinsically tied to this mission, as grandmothers and mothers are
often the primary transmitters of the Greek language, Orthodox
traditions, and cultural heritage. During an exclusive interview, the
MNA emphasized the importance of bringing this dialogue directly to
cultural communities. She noted that "the Greek media and community
media are interviewing me", hoping this grassroots awareness will
reach the ears of the government. She reflected on how previous
generations rarely spoke openly about these issues. The elected
official observed that "our mothers and grandmothers never talked
about menopause, never, ever talked about postpartum depression after
giving birth". Within the Greek-Canadian community, where elders are
deeply integrated into daily family life and childcare, ensuring that
women age in good health is highly relevant.
Within the various community organizations and local church groups, the
topic remains hushed. The politician shared that women in these
associations "never dare talk about it" openly, instead opting to
"whisper to each other" about experiencing hot flashes, treating the
subject "as if it's shameful". She is actively working to dismantle this
stigma, declaring that "we do have a unique system, women", and should
be comfortable discussing biological realities. The Member of National
Assembly noted that women are living longer and "they can continue to
profit the community, the families". She pointed out that if they are
healthy and their hormonal transitions are properly managed without
severe side effects from aging, "they can stay longer" in the workforce
and "continue working". Furthermore, they can be "helpful to the
family", especially providing care for "the grandchildren". However, the
current medical approach often falls short of meeting these needs. She
argued that young girls are frequently given pain medication for severe
cramps while being told their suffering is a standard biological
experience. She stated that "since puberty, starting puberty, when we
say to girls that, oh, it's normal, it's okay, and they're in pain, you
know, I find that there hasn't been enough studies". She mentioned
knowing a young woman who "doesn't have a doctor" and "she's on Advil
nonstop" since the age of 17.
To address this, the proposed strategy involves increased investments
in research within Quebec universities and hospitals to provide
doctors with better tools and clear guidelines on hormone replacement
therapies. The MNA also brought up a systemic hurdle, mentioning that
general practitioners "never send you to a gynecologist" unless there
is a severe medical issue. She firmly believes that "each woman
should have the right to a gynecologist, to go see a gynecologist" to
receive specialized care.
To amplify her message to the broader public, the elected official held
a press activity on the morning of February 26 in the Bernard Lalonde
room at the Parliament building. Standing at a wooden podium flanked by
several blue and white Fleurdelisé flags, she addressed the media to
explain the urgent need for medical research and preventive care. She
reminded those in attendance that International Women's Day "was born
out of a struggle", with the first day taking place in 1911 before being
recognized by the United Nations in 1975. She challenged the status quo
by asking "what have we actually done for women's health", considering
Quebec made the choice to have "a universal health system for our entire
population". She stated that "from the very first time the girls have
their period, young girls learn to endure pain". She added that "there
is little prevention, no structure to follow-up and no long-term data".
Speaking personally during the press conference, she shared her own
lived experiences to underscore the gravity of the situation. She
spoke as a menopausal woman, describing menopause as a "major hormonal
transition that affects the heart, the bones, mental health, memory,
healthy aging, and essential aspects of life" that people often take
for granted until they begin to disappear. She explained that "with
age, hormones decrease progressively", leaving many women with
"reduced hormonal protection exposed to significant impacts on their
health and quality of life". She credited a 2021 documentary led by
Veronique Cloutier for finally breaking the silence on the issue. That
media mobilization led the Minister of Health, Christian Dube, to
announce the coverage of two bio-identical hormones by the Régie de
l'assurance maladie du Québec. While acknowledging this as an
important step, she stressed the need for a comprehensive public
policy, noting that isolated measures are insufficient to address a
widespread health crisis. She believes the province has the necessary
expertise, stating "the science exists, the institutions exist", and
"what's missing is political will".
Despite the unprecedented number of female elected officials in the
legislature, the Coalition Avenir Quebec government voted against the
motion without providing an explanation on the floor. When the
governing party refuses a motion without notice, the proposal drops
and cannot proceed to a full vote. The politician expressed feeling
hurt and disappointed by the refusal, noting she was sure they were
going to accept it given the numerous female ministers in the
government. She speculated that the refusal might be tied to the
government facing a 12 billion dollar deficit and cutting budgets
across the board. She countered this by explaining that simply passing
the motion "would have sent a great message" to researchers,
encouraging them to focus on menopause research. She emphasized that
elected female officials must lead this charge, asking rhetorically
"are we going to wait for Celine Dion to come and replace us" to
advocate for women. She pointed out that the federal Minister of
Health recently announced an investment of 1.9 million dollars for
perimenopause and menopause research, showing that the movement is
already gaining traction. She had previously brought this subject to
the Liberal Party over the past three and a half years during their
meetings, and they "were ready to do something about the menopause".
Refusing to let the initiative stall, the Member of National Assembly
confirmed she is now using other parliamentary tools to advance the
issue. She stated that "I'm working on a project for a law, so a bill".
The objective is to present this formal legislation before June, which
would force a formal vote and bring the matter before a parliamentary
commission. At such a commission, medical specialists, universities, and
hospitals could testify and provide official recommendations to the
government. During the morning press briefing, journalists repeatedly
asked questions regarding the internal politics of the Quebec Liberal
Party and the Ethics Commissioner. The MNA is currently sitting as an
independent member. She declined to discuss partisan matters, stating
she wished to remain focused on the subject of women's health and the
upcoming International Women's Day. The press conference officially
concluded at 9:16 in the morning.
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