2024-10-21 20:33:00
(Quebec) Quebec had to stop recruiting nurses in Africa, otherwise its reputation would have suffered, according to the general delegate of Quebec in Dakar, Senegal, Iya Touré.
Updated yesterday at 9:09 p.m.
Caroline Plante The Canadian Press
“The decision is beneficial,” he declared Monday in an interview in a Quebec hotel on the sidelines of the annual meeting of Quebec representatives abroad, even adding: “I would have taken it sooner. »
In March 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 37 of the 55 countries battling the worst health worker shortages were African. She called for protecting vulnerable health systems.
Quebec, which, for two years, has sought around 1,000 African nurses, announced on October 2 that it was ending its recruitment in Africa, except in Tunisia, for “ethical” reasons.
“We have been talking about it for a long time, those of us on the ground,” said Mr. Touré, explaining that he had raised awareness with the Legault government.
“When you go to Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Morocco, the authorities tell you: “We train people, [ça] is expensive to train and you come and take our creams. They are leaving! »
“We put together the information to say: ‘Let’s be careful,’” he said.
According to the general delegate, the government of Quebec finally made the “right decision” to send “a clear message to these countries […] who are in need.”
“We had no choice. We had to give a signal, because we had the WHO, the International Organization for Migration and the International Labor Office too” which were putting pressure.
“It had to be done, it was the right thing, and it also allows us to preserve Quebec’s reputation, something on which we are not negotiating at all, in any way. That comes first,” said Mr. Touré.
While waiting for Legault’s visit…
The Quebec delegation in Dakar, which today has 15 employees, covers a dozen countries. Its mission, among other things, is to support Quebec companies in exploring markets.
To do this, it must ensure a “sustained” political and financial presence on African territory, which is increasingly coveted by China, Russia and Turkey, according to Iya Touré. Former vice-president at Investissement Québec, Mr. Touré also hopes to one day be able to welcome Prime Minister François Legault.
“In Africa, as in many Asian countries, politics must precede economics. The political relationship must be established, people must see you regularly. Afterwards, they will think of you economically. Honestly, I’m very vocal about this with the government. »
The last Prime Minister of Quebec to go to Dakar was the Liberal Philippe Couillard. However, the CAQ Minister of International Relations, Martine Biron, has carried out several missions to Africa over the past two years.
Another challenge: in a “slightly difficult context of budgetary restrictions” in Quebec, Mr. Touré anticipates having to “work differently” and “retarget more” his actions.
He gives the example of events organized by Quebec, such as the International Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation which is now mainly financed by the private sector.
“That’s fantastic. This is the type of exercise that we will have to do,” he maintains.
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