Minister Rechie Valdez hands the mic to Premier Ranj Pillai after announcing the additional $3.6 million in funds for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program at the cafeteria in the Whitehorse General Hospital. Photo Couresty of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The Federal Government has announced over $3.6 million in new funding to assist internationally qualified healthcare workers fill critical vacancies in the healthcare system within the territory in a bid to ease the issues surrounding short staffing in Yukon medical services.
Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez announced the new funding at the Whitehorse General Hospital and noted that these funds come on top of previous investments. Last month the Minister of Employment Randy Boissonnault announced $86 million in funding for the program.
The funding is a part of the Foreign Credential Recognition Program which aims to streamline the process for internationally qualified workers currently living in Canada to work in healthcare.
“This funding will allow new opportunities for newcomers who are already qualified to be able to work here in Canada,” said Minister Valdez.
Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez tours the MRI capabilities at the Whitehorse General Hospital before announcing the additional funding. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW
Minister Valdez says that this funding will help roughly 6,600 internationally qualified workers enter the workforce while stating that this will not affect the immigration population in the country.
Premier Ranj Pillai notes that this additional funding looks to be another key piece of addressing the challenges facing healthcare staffing in the territory.
“This program, coupled with the recent creation of the Health and Human Resources Strategy, offers healthcare workers in the territory numerous supports to enter the workforce,” said Premier Pillai.
Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee added that this program will help fill the specific healthcare vacancies as they are needed in various communities across the territory.
