A DELEGATION from Canada’s Province of Saskatchewan is now in Manila in an effort to recruit hundreds of qualified Filipino healthcare workers.

“With a vibrant and growing Filipino-Canadian population, Saskatchewan has a strong and meaningful relationship with the Philippines. This mission will allow us to engage directly with Filipino healthcare workers and attract them to the province,” Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health Paul Merriman said.

“This initiative is one of the ways our government is delivering on our commitment to attract hundreds of additional healthcare workers to our friendly Saskatchewan communities, which are eager to welcome them.”

A series of workshops and information sessions will be hosted until Friday in Manila by Saskatchewan’s delegation, which includes Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) representatives who will conduct on-site interviews with applicants such as registered nurses and continuing care assistants.

Merriman will lead the delegation and participate in targeted meetings with key officials from a number of partner agencies to reinforce the province’s important relationship with the Philippines and explore innovative opportunities to strengthen the partnership.

Saskatchewan has announced intentions to recruit hundreds of new healthcare workers from abroad. While in Manila, the focus will be on recruiting qualified healthcare workers and other high-priority professions.

“Our province has experienced success in welcoming Filipino nurses and other healthcare workers into our workforce and our communities,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley said.

“Saskatchewan is now home to a large and thriving Filipino community. We’re already generating a lot of interest from the Philippines in the available healthcare jobs the province is currently looking to fill. We offer various incentives, settlement support and assistance to spouses in finding employment in the province,” Hindley added.

The mission will advance long-term collaboration and exchanges between Saskatchewan and Philippine post-secondary institutions on curriculum, alignment of nurse training programs, and the development of pathways to fast-track Filipino health sciences graduates into the Saskatchewan labor market.

Minister Merriman will be joined on the mission by representatives from Saskatchewan’s two universities and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

An interactive web page Saskatchewan.ca/HHR-Philippines is targeted to a Philippine audience with the details of the mission, registration for information and recruitment events in Manila, as well as upcoming webinars and other online tools and resources.

Saskatchewan’s HHR Action Plan announced in September will invest over C$60 million and add more than 1,000 health professionals into the health system over the next few years.

Details on healthcare opportunities, how to access them, and more information on province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan are available at a dedicated website saskatchewan.ca/HHR.