Gatineau Parents To Give Birth In Ottawa, Ontario

Gatineau parents who live in Quebec but had to go to either the Ottawa Hospital or the Montfort Hospital to give birth.

Gatineau can't keep up with demand and many pregnant women have to go to the Ontario side of the Ottawa River to give birth.

The volume of births has been steady for several years and reflects the fact that Gatineau is a growing city.

It's a region with plenty of young professionals because of the presence of the federal government.

The low unemployment rate has also encouraged the healthy birth rate.

There were 7,019 births at the Ottawa Hospital in 2005-2006, including 538 babies from Quebec parents.

At the Gatineau health agency, Martin Saint-Louis said the lack of obstetricians and gynecologists has worsened as the city has grown.