Quebec Emergency Departments Operated at an Average Capacity of 84.7% During the Week of June 15–21
Quebec’s emergency departments reported an average capacity of 84.7% during the week of June 15 to June 21, 2026, based on 17,290 reported records collected from 103 emergency department installations across the province.
The figures show considerable variation between regions, with several areas operating above 100% average capacity during the week while others remained below provincial levels.
Key Metrics
- Provincial average capacity: 84.7%
- Average patients waiting more than 24 hours: 4.8
- Average patients waiting more than 48 hours: 1.7
- Highest reported capacity: 300%
- Lowest reported capacity: 0%
Provincial Overview
Across Quebec, emergency departments operated below full capacity on average during the reporting period. The provincial average was calculated as a record-weighted mean across all reporting facilities.
While the province-wide average remained under 100%, several regions experienced notably higher levels of occupancy throughout the week. The highest regional average capacity was recorded in Laval at 151.9%, followed by Montérégie at 118.0%, Lanaudière at 115.7%, and Laurentides at 113.4%.
The Montréal Region, home to the province’s largest concentration of emergency departments, reported an average capacity of 107.6% during the week.
At the other end of the spectrum, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine reported the lowest regional average capacity at 48.1%.
Regional Highlights
The highest capacity reading reported anywhere in Quebec during the week was 300%, recorded at the Centre multiservices de santé et de services sociaux de la Minganie Emergency Department in Havre-Saint-Pierre, located in the Côte-Nord Region.
Several regions also reported elevated averages for patients remaining in emergency departments for extended periods. Laval averaged 13.5 patients waiting more than 24 hours, while Montérégie averaged 11.8, Lanaudière 10.3, and Laurentides 9.0.
Data Coverage
Period analyzed: June 15–21, 2026
Regions with reported data: 15
Emergency department installations included: 103
Total records analyzed: 17,290
The dataset for the reporting period was complete for all reporting regions and installations included in the analysis.
Methodology
Provincial averages were calculated using a record-weighted mean across all emergency department reports submitted during the reporting period. Regional averages were calculated from all records reported within each region between June 15 and June 21, 2026.
Maximum and minimum values reflect the highest and lowest reported observations during the week.
Capacity percentages and prolonged-stay indicators represent reported operational conditions and should not be interpreted as measures of clinical quality or patient safety.
Informational Use Statement
This article is based on publicly reported emergency department data collected between June 15 and June 21, 2026. It is provided for informational and historical reporting purposes only.
Emergency department conditions can change rapidly and may differ significantly from those described in this article. The information presented here reflects reported conditions during the specified reporting period and should not be interpreted as representing the current status of any emergency department.