Mr. Speaker, there is a serious staffing situation in the province of New Brunswick which can mean a serious downturn in patient care. Because of the high demand for radiation therapists across the country, provinces are competing for qualified staff to fill vacancies.
Sadly, radiation therapists in New Brunswick are the lowest paid in the country. For that reason many are seeking better paying jobs in other provinces. Already the province has lost four people and one more is planning to leave.
The people of New Brunswick deserve access to qualified health care providers. We need to stress the importance of retaining our qualified, experienced radiation therapists in New Brunswick to care for the hundreds of cancer patients who are in desperate need of treatment. We have an obligation to those patients to ensure that this alarming situation does not create an exodus to the west or stateside and that our health care workers remain in the province.
I challenge Premier Thériault to address this issue. If he does not, Bernard Lord will.