A young nurse says she is leaving Nova Scotia following last week’s nurses’ strike, the introduction of essential services legislation and the loss of the graduate tax rebate.
Amanda Parsons says it’s clear the provincial government doesn’t appreciate her services so she is applying for a job in Newfoundland.
“I really feel, at this point, there is no reason for me to stay here,” says Parsons.
The Liberals say the graduate tax rebate wasn’t keeping students in the province and now they say they are shifting their focus to creating jobs to keep grads here.
“It’s a nice sum of money to have, there’s no question about it, but unless we can create a significant number of jobs in the province, it is really tough to keep young people here,” says Nova Scotia Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine.
But the NDP say the trust has been broken with nurses already in the workforce and those about to graduate.
“It is really disheartening when you hear of recent graduates from our nursing schools feeling so demoralized and disrespected that they’re looking for employment in other provinces,” says Maureen MacDonald, acting leader for the Nova Scotia NDP.
Parsons says she is not the only young nurse who is ready to pack up and leave.
“I work in ICU and our manager is actually worried about an ex-flux of people who are leaving at the moment, most of which who are young, recently graduated nurses,” says Parsons.
Glavine says the government is working on ways to keep young nurses in the province.
“To young nurses I would say, we will work to keep salaries commensurate with those across the country,” says Glavine.
However, Parsons says the problem is not with the bottom line, but rather with respect for nurses.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Amanda Debison
