Provinces compete to retain, recruit health-care workers
As competition for health-care workers heats up, so too does the bidding.
When the Nova Scotia government announced $10,000 bonuses for public health-care workers this week, New Brunswick was surprised.
"That was a disappointment. I'm not going to say anything different,” said New Brunswick Health Minister Bruce Fitch.
“Not to speak for the premier but I believe he was disappointed as well because it does put a lot of pressure on the other provinces."
The race to retain and recruit staff amid a global shortage of workers is at times pitting provinces against one another.
In an interview with CTV Atlantic's CTV News at Six anchor Todd Battis Thursday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said he wasn’t trying to poach from another province.
“Other provinces will make their decisions on what they do on retention and recruitment but this is about Nova Scotians,” Houston said.
Nova Scotia is the latest province to offer its health-care workers financial incentives.
On Monday, it announced a $10,000 “thank you” bonus for nurses and another $10,000 if nurses sign a contract to stay on for two years.
The province will also pay a $10,000 incentive to nurses who have left the publicly funded system if they agree to come back and sign a two-year return of service agreement.
A long list of other health-care workers including paramedics, medical radiation technologist, cleaning staff and more will receive a $5,000 retention bonus if they agree to work for two years.
Prince Edward Island previously offered its registered nurses and nurse practitioners a $3,500 retention bonus.
In March 2022, Ontario offered its nurses a $5,000 bonus and in September 2021, Quebec offered up to $18,000 in bonuses to keep nurses on the job.
British Columbia recently brought in a new pay model for doctors that could increase doctor’s annual income by more than $100,000.
“I think there’s both a role for financial and non-financial incentives,” said Ivy Bourgeault, the lead of the Canadian Health Workforce Network.
Bourgeault believes if the intention is to retain workers, that’s important.
“But to be to a certain extent outbidding each other by trying to recruit from other provinces doesn’t make for very good neighbours,” she said, noting it can have knock-on effects for regions and countries unable to offer those incentives.
The president of The Canadian Nurses Association applauds Nova Scotia’s bonuses as a good first step but believes working conditions must also improve.
“If we don’t fix the working environment here, even the ones who come from other countries, if they find out that the working environment or working conditions are not well or decent, they won’t stay,” said Sylvain Brousseau.
In Nova Scotia, some are concerned the bonuses could divide staff and pit workers against one another. Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs), for instance, will receive a retention bonus of $5,000 while nurses could get up to four times that.
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) wrote a letter to Premier Houston on behalf of Nova Scotia’s 600 MRTs. In it, CAMRT thanked the government for including MRTs but pointed out how despite experiencing burnout and understaffing, MRTs were not recognized as nurses were.
“When an initiative by the government is called a ‘thank you bonus,’ and only applies to one profession, MRTs feel that their contributions are less meaningful and unseen,” the letter reads.
The letter goes on to ask the premier to listen to MRTs just as the government has listened to nurses and that any further retention or recognition programs consider no one profession as more essential than the other.
Department of Health spokesperson Khalehla Perrault said there is a nursing shortage, and it’s having a significant impact on how health care is provided.
“A top priority for us is ensuring increased and timely access to primary health care,” she said, pointing out how more nurses in the system means more access for Nova Scotians.
“We’ve made a number of investments to support health-care workers over the last while and we’re pleased to give many of them the $5,000 thank-you bonus,” she said. “We know money isn’t everything, but it’s something, and it’s a way to show our appreciation for their tremendous work and for providing great care to Nova Scotians.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.