A hundred workers gathered Thursday near the Surrey Memorial hospital in response to the call of the union of hospitals (SEH) denounced the 50 % reduction imposed by Ottawa in the number of places available in the province’s candidates’ program (PCP) in British Columbia.
In 2024, British Columbia had 8,000 places in this program, a figure reduced to 4000 this year while Prime Minister David Eby had claimed 11,000 from the federal government. This change considerably decreases the chances of some of these demonstrators to obtain an extension of their work permits and a way to permanent residence.
Restore the places of PCP To keep the Health workers of British Columbia
could we read on the signs of demonstrators, most of whom are non-medical workers, maintenance staff or security agents, for example, some from India.
After reducing the number of places available, medical workers from the province’s health authorities are now priority before non -medical workers.
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Jasveer Kaur works as maintenance staff in a province hospital.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Corentin Mittet-Magnan
I started working in this health sector to participate in its proper functioning
explains Jasveer Kaur, maintenance staff in a hospital arrived in Canada four years ago. All of a sudden, the system changes and I feel betrayed
she says, holding in her hands a sign on which we read British Columbia needs more health workers
.
Same story on the side of Ravinder Dhiman who has also been in Canada for four years. The young man has been working for the provincial health services agency for two years. I had the hope that it would give me support
Towards the permanent residence, he testifies.
All ask to be treated as medical workers, judging their essential jobs for the proper functioning of health services in the province.
A threat of expulsion
If you are good enough to work, you are good enough to stay
Rule and LANGIC Lyndn Bauck, Sccroteer you SEH. She claims a Access to the permanent residence for migrant workers
were called
To solve the problems of shortage of health workers
.
Five hundred of our members, who work in our hospitals, will see their visa expiring this year
said Caelie Frampton, spokesperson for the union. They know how to do their job and we want them to stay here.
The union of hospitals employees calls for the creation of an access route to the permanent residence at the federal level for non-medical health workers who work full time for the health authorities of British Columbia.
