I often get asked about how can meet the workforce needs in our provincial healthcare system and also get more doctors and nurses working in our system. We have approximately 34,000 nurses and 19,000 doctors trained abroad residing in Canada who are unable to practice their profession due to a lack of standardized national testing based on skills and not credentials.

Conservatives are calling on the Trudeau government to create a Blue Seal national testing standard to get a license in regulated trades, starting with doctors and nurses but continuing until all regulated professions are covered. Provinces and territories would have the freedom to join or keep their own systems. This Blue Seal program should be modeled on the Canadian Council of Directors if Apprenticeships that does it for Red Seal certificates for many existing skilled professions.

We would then sign deals with provinces and territories that will create a 60-day standard so internationally-trained health professionals applying for Blue Seal certificates get a chance to take the test and get an answer within 60 days.

This Blue Seal system could get more doctors and nurses into our healthcare systems across Canada meaning faster service and shorter wait times. I need to hear from you, what do you think of this plan to address the workforce shortage in our healthcare system in Alberta?

What do you think of this plan to address the workforce shortage in our healthcare system in Alberta?