MICHELE LOWE & JODI HALL

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores, Nova Scotia has begun to stand out amongst the provinces for the innovative strategies — from the Atlantic Bubble to nursing retention bonuses — we have used to bolster our health-care system. We need that energy and focus to improve the long-term care system in every jurisdiction across Canada.

Right now, one of the most pressing problems facing long-term care homes is a lack of workers who can provide needed care to residents. We’ve seen homes with empty beds and rooms because there are simply not enough health-care workers available to staff them. A key way to address this shortage is by welcoming new Canadians who are qualified and able to fill these gaps.

Nova Scotia has led the way; in March of this year, the Nova Scotia College of Nursing announced a first-in-Canada plan to fast-track licensing for international nurses from eight countries. Weeks later, they had thousands of applicants who had expressed an interest in working in the province.

This was built on the work of programs like the federal Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), which offered 121 refugees the opportunity to work as continuing care assistants in the province. While other provinces have signed on to this program, Nova Scotia has offered the most jobs to EMPP candidates. It’s becoming clear: If we open the pathways for foreign-trained health-care workers to come to Canada, they will come.

The problem? Of the 121 refugees who have been offered jobs in long-term care — none of them have successfully begun working in Nova Scotia. Delays at the federal level have left their applications hanging in limbo as homes wait for this desperately needed help.

Creating these pathways is not good enough if people cannot actually use them. The purpose of trying to streamline immigration channels is to support the health-care system as it continues to experience problems uncovered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-term care sector, in particular, continues to face an emergency-level situation. While the situation has receded from headlines, waitlists for long-term care continue to grow across the country and staff retention and recruitment are not meeting the pace needed.