Quebec is launching an offensive to recruit 1,000 nurses abroad who will be able to complete a short skills recognition program before coming to lend a hand to the health network.
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These will come mainly from French-speaking African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritius, announced the Minister of Labor and Immigration, Jean Boulet. He was accompanied by his colleague in Health, Christian Dubé.
The nurses selected will have to take refresher training for 9 to 12 months in a CEGEP located in the regions, namely Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint -Jean, Baie-James and Outaouais.
Quebec will assume their tuition fees, the cost of the request for equivalence to the order of nurses, the cost of the refresher training and the fees for the request for the comparative evaluation of studies done outside Quebec.
In addition, they will receive an allowance of $500 per week during their studies.
The measure will cost the state $65 million.
In addition, nurses will also be able to work up to 20 hours a week as orderlies during their training and full-time during school holidays.
These immigration candidates will also be able to settle in Quebec with their spouse and children. They will benefit from “sustained and personalized support starting from abroad”, assures Quebec.
More details will follow…