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By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Province hoping foreign nurses can fill open spaces in Alberta

Feb 14, 2023 | 10:09 AM

CALGARY – The Alberta government is providing more spaces and financial aid to get internationally-educated nurses accredited in the province.

The province is hoping foreign nurses will be able to fill the shortfall in Alberta’s health-care system.

READ MORE: Nurse recruitment continues for Oyen hospital: AHS

It announced students will be able to access up to $30,000 in bursaries and it will create 600 new seats for nurse bridging programs.

Alberta’s advanced education minister says many internationally educated nurses face long wait lists and significant financial barriers to gain accreditation. Any internationally educated nurse who accepts the bursary is required to work in Alberta for one year for each $6,000 received. The spaces and bursaries will be available in the 2023-2024 academic year.

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NDP Advanced Education Critic David Eggen issued the following statement in response to the announcement of expanded training for internationally educated nurses:

“Today’s announcement is a drop in the bucket compared to the cuts and increased costs students have faced under the UCP government.

“Tuition increases at our universities, including nursing tuitions, come at a time when we are facing a critical shortage of nurses in Alberta.

“While tuition fees rise, the UCP government has cut almost $700 million from post-secondary institutions, and most students don’t qualify for affordability payments as the cost of groceries, utilities, and auto insurance continues to increase under the UCP.

“In addition to cuts inflicted by the UCP, it is extremely difficult to recruit professionals into an environment that is so hostile to health-care workers.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2023.

The Canadian Press

(With files from rdnewsNOW)