There is a shortage of manpower in the public health system in Quebec, like everywhere in the world. We hear the refrain every day. And this is not a one-off shortage. No analysis suggests that it will be resolved within two or three years. The reasons for this long-term shortage are well known.
The World Health Organization estimates that there will be a shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030. Countries at all levels of socio-economic development face this, to varying degrees.
This staff is therefore very valuable. Those who speak French even more for Quebec.
Here, as in most developed countries, the government seems to be convinced that immigration is part of the solution to this problem. There have been several reports recently in the Quebec media on French-speaking immigrants working in the public health sector, sometimes for two or three years, struggling with temporary work permit problems, on the verge of being forced to to leave the country.
We generally blame administrative chaos at the federal level. But the real question would rather be: why did Quebec bring in these people with temporary status?
We take it for granted that, if Quebec recruits these attendants, doctors and nurses, it is so that they settle down and stay here.
Quebec controls the selection and levels of immigration on its territory. There is no reason why people who meet the conditions established by the province cannot obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate which would grant them permanent residence.
The Arrima IT system was set up in 2018 specifically to speed up the processing of immigration applications and to allow the ministry to invite people with the required skills and who have declared their interest in Arrima. The chances of being invited are even greater if the person has a validated job offer, especially in the region. A public health establishment could provide such a job offer. The maximum time to process a complete application is six months.
This is a much simpler process than the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which requires employers (even public ones) to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (involving fees and processing time). processing of the application by both levels of government), and then the hired people obtain a Certificate of Acceptance from Quebec, followed by a temporary work permit from the federal government (other fees and delays).
Quebec can do better
Upon their arrival, these rare gems coveted by our public health system could enjoy the security and stability that come with permanent status and be entitled to all the same services as members of the host society. The right to mobility. The assurance of being able to pay the rent next month. Access to loans and a mortgage. The right to bring their partner and children, if applicable. The right to apply for citizenship, vote and participate fully in their new society.
Gone is the anxiety of renewing a temporary license with all the paperwork and fees that that entails. No more consultant or lawyer fees and the hassle with MPs and journalists to find out where their request has been received.
We have even heard of cases where establishments in the public health network have hired, through an agency with questionable ethics, workers without work permits, as “volunteers” paid less than the minimum wage!
We are talking here about the public sector of Quebec. What message is the government sending by treating immigrant staff recruited to care for the sick and vulnerable in our society in such a cavalier manner? These anecdotes are going around the world via interested social networks. Quebec can do better.