Remove roadblocks for health workers
There is no question that the current health-care crisis in Atlantic Canada has, at its heart, a critical staffing shortage. So, it was surprising to recently learn that an Indian woman seeking education in a health field in Nova Scotia was denied a student visa because the immigration officer wasn’t satisfied she would return to India after her studies.
Well, so what if she didn’t? There likely wouldn’t be any trouble finding her a job.
Malavika Rajasekhara, 26, had applied and been admitted to Cape Breton University’s two-year postgraduate diploma in health-care management. She had already paid the full tuition for the program when her student visa application was denied.
Recently, the Nova Scotia Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment said after a recent trip to Kenyan refugee camps it recruited 65 continuing care assistants to begin working later in 2023.
“One of the biggest challenges we face is finding the right health-care professionals to fill the vacancies we have across Nova Scotia,” Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson said in a news release promoting the hires.
“There are talented and skilled people around the world who would love to come here, and we would love to have them.”
That’s the sentiment behind recent efforts the province and regulatory colleges have undertaken to streamline the hiring of foreign health-care workers.
Brendan Sheridan, an associate at Stewart McKelvey who specializes in Canadian immigration, wrote in an article for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in November 2022, “The insufficient numbers of Canadians and permanent residents entering and remaining in the health-care field has forced employers to explore alternative options, namely the hiring of foreign health-care workers, to fill their vacant positions.”
Sheridan wrote the streamlined process will “allow foreign workers to begin working in the field more quickly after receiving their immigration authorization to work in Canada, while still maintaining a diligent evaluation process.”
It seems while provincial health authorities are working to streamline the hiring of foreign health-care workers, there are federal immigration authorities who seem to be worried international students studying health subjects in Canada might not leave.
In Rajasekhara’s case, she actually does not want to stay in Canada after her studies, saying in her application that she has family obligations and career plans requiring her return home. A federal judge has sent Rajasekhara’s application back to another visa officer for re-determination.
Whether she wants to stay or not, Rajasekhara’s case demonstrates that barriers still exist for people who might want to work in the region’s health-care settings. It’s impossible to know how many foreign-trained nurses and doctors are facing those same roadblocks.
All levels of government need to start working on this issue now. People needing health care across Atlantic Canada can’t afford to wait.