Provincial Findings:
Quebec
She Matters was able to obtain responses from a total of 80 emergency rooms in Québec. Data collection in Québec proved to be the most difficult of the provinces and territories due to sensitivity and accessibility to information.
She Matters had French-speaking volunteers conduct all Québec calls to receive more accurate data. Québec hospitals had the highest rate of refusing to answer whether or not they had SAEKs or the ability to perform one if an individual were to seek care at their facilities. Many hospitals were hesitant to provide information.
On several occasions, the emergency staff asked questions such as whether the caller was a lawyer or insurance representative, where the caller lived, and whether they had just experienced a sexual assault or called on someone’s behalf. The callers answered these questions as though they were the survivor or calling for a friend or family member seeking clarification on services. Once the caller answered the questions, some staff advised whether they provided these services, while others still refused to answer.
The response in Québec was not typical of the reactions in other provinces or territories. However, the hospitals that responded that they did have SAEKs and could provide services were mostly sensitive to the callers, informative, and explained the process of a survivor attending their facility.
43% of hospitals either didn’t have access to kits, needed the RCMP to provide kits, or refused to answer availability
Longest Distance: Montmagny to Lévis (65 kilometres or 42 minutes)
Total Number of Hospitals: 87
Number of Hospitals with Kits: 50
Number of Hospitals without Kits: 30
Refused to Answer: 6
RCMP Must Bring Kit: 1
