Quebec is rolling out the red carpet to recruit 1,000 nurses abroad who will be invited to practice in seven regions where the network is struggling with a shortage of nursing staff.
Posted at 10:13 a.m.
The Minister of Labor and Immigration, Jean Boulet, announced Wednesday an investment of 65 million over two years to proceed with the recruitment and integration of these international candidates.
These staff will be intended for Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, James Bay and Outaouais. However, Minister Boulet specified that the candidates will not be required to work in these regions.
The candidates will be welcomed in the CEGEPs of the targeted regions to receive refresher training lasting 9 to 12 months which will lead to recognition of their training and clinical experience by the Order of Nurses. They will be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week as patient attendants during their training.
Candidates will also receive an allowance of $500 per week for the duration of the training and tuition fees, the cost of applying for equivalence to the Order and the cost of refresher training will all be covered by the Ministry of Immigration.
People recruited through this program will be able to settle in Quebec accompanied by their immediate family and their spouse will receive an open work permit.
The first cohorts of nurses will arrive in the fall of 2022, as well as in 2023, for their refresher training.
The French-speaking countries targeted for the recruitment of nurses for the first phase of the project are Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritius.