March 3, 2026
Quebec must keep its promise to implement an organized colorectal cancer screening program now
Nearly three years after the unanimous adoption by the National Assembly of Quebec of a motion calling for the implementation of the Quebec Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (PQDCCR) before the end of the current government’s mandate, Quebec remains the only province without an organized screening program.
“Quebec can no longer afford to fall behind. Colorectal cancer screening demonstration projects were announced in 2010. Fifteen years later, we are still waiting for a fully implemented program. Enough is enough. Quebec must act now and deliver this program before the end of the current mandate,” said Barry D. Stein, CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada. The program aimed to offer structured screening to individuals aged 50 to 74 through systematic invitations and free access to the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). However, in the absence of an organized program, responsibility for screening still largely rests with citizens, who must request the test themselves, despite repeated government commitments to cancer prevention and early detection.
According to the most recent data, approximately 7,300 Quebecers will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and nearly 2,350 will die from it. These figures illustrate the magnitude of the colorectal cancer burden in Quebec — and the human cost of a delay that has persisted for far too long.
Early detection saves lives. When diagnosed at an early stage, survival rates for colorectal cancer often exceed 90%, whereas they drop significantly when the disease is detected at an advanced stage. “Quebec is the only province in Canada that has not implemented an organized colorectal cancer screening program, even though it is the second deadliest type of cancer,” said David Raynaud, Senior Manager, Advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society. “Detecting cancer early improves survival rates, reduces the intensity of treatments for patients, and helps alleviate pressure on the healthcare system.”
Moreover, Quebec must contend with a concerning trend: the incidence of colorectal cancer is rising rapidly among people under the age of 50. Canadians born after 1980 are now two to two and a half times more likely to be diagnosed before age 50 than previous generations. These cancers are often detected too late, at an advanced stage, making treatment more complex and worsening prognosis.
“Our request is all the more legitimate given that, contrary to popular belief, our healthcare system has the capacity to carry out these tests without placing excessive additional pressure on the network. If the government wants to take a meaningful and popular action, here it is,” said Marco Décelles, General Manager of the Quebec Cancer Foundation.
Faced with this alarming reality, several countries and jurisdictions have already lowered the recommended screening age to 45, recognizing that earlier screening can prevent more cancers and save more lives.
Colorectal Cancer Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Quebec Cancer Foundation are calling on the Government of Quebec to keep its promise by immediately deploying the PQDCCR and allocating the necessary resources, while also mandating the Institut national d’excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) to study the possibility of lowering the screening age to 45.
Acting now with a proactive, inclusive and expanded screening strategy could transform colorectal cancer prevention in Quebec. Every year of delay costs thousands of lives that could be saved.
Media inquiries:
Colorectal Cancer Canada
[email protected] | 514-875-7745, ext. 2524
Quebec Cancer Foundation
[email protected] | 514-527-2194, ext. 228
Canadian Cancer Society
[email protected] | Fatou Thiam, Manager, Communications
Marco Décelles – General Manager, Quebec Cancer Foundation
Barry D. Stein – CEO, Colorectal Cancer Canada
David Raynaud – Senior Manager, Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society