Schemes includes one-time cash offers and return flights for a friend or family member
The governments of Nunavut and Saskatchewan have announced new incentives to entice healthcare professionals and reduce staffing challenges.
In Nunavut, the government said it is rolling out a "Bring a Friend or Family Member" incentive for nurses who want to work in the province for the holiday season. Under the incentive, eligible applicants will be granted with one return flight for a friend or family member.
Eligible applicants include:
- Indeterminate and casual Group 5 nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, and mental health consultants
- Indeterminate staff working Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
- Casual staff who provide a minimum of three weeks of service and are scheduled to work from December 6, 2022, to January 9, 2023.
Read more: Northwest Territories announces incentives to attract and retain healthcare workers
"Bring a Friend or Family Member is a program developed to improve recruitment to avoid projected staff shortages and possible service reductions," read the government announcement.
According to the provincial government, the friend or family member should not be a resident of the community where the nurse is scheduled to serve.
"The nurse and the companion will share accommodations. Staff are advised to speak to their recruiter as the airfare may be a taxable benefit," added the announcement.
Saskatchewan turn to cash
Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan government said a new one-time incentive between $30,000 to $50,000 is up for grabs for healthcare workers who will work in rural and remote areas.
"By offering competitive incentive packages and focusing on key retention practices, we will expand our health care workforce, stabilize health care services across the province, and build a stronger health care system ready to meet the needs of a growing province," said Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley in a statement.
Read more: Province announces perk packages to beat talent shortage
The incentive is part of Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources Action Plan, which aims to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more healthcare workers to boost the province's healthcare system. The plan recently took its "first step" by creating more than 125 new, full-time, frontline healthcare positions, while making more than 50 part-time roles as full-time.
"The creation of more permanent, full-time positions will lead to better retention of our health care workforce in these rural and northern areas," said Health Minister Paul Merriman.
According to Merriman, boosting the province's healthcare workforce under the Health Human Resources Action Plan will attract more professionals to areas where "they are most needed."
