First, we need to turn the dial on their working conditions and the stories that are coming out. That's the number one reason they're not staying. We've seen federal government programs and provincial government programs to educate more personal care workers, and the last statistics I heard were that only 30% of them stayed after they entered.
It goes back to what Ms. Stewart was saying: the conditions of work. The conditions of work will be the conditions of care and will be the conditions for retention. That's why I stress so much retention and recruitment first. If we don't change the retention aspect, we will never be able to recruit.
In regard to the internationally educated health professionals, you see doctors, nurses and respiratory technicians. Again, the list is long of those who need credentials, who need a licence to practice. We need to standardize that. As for the way to standardize that, Mr. Bolduc talked about it a bit. We need to make sure that before they enter the country they know what will be expected, and that we help them.
I was very pleased last Friday to hear that my home province of New Brunswick is looking at “earn to learn” programs. It's at its newest beginning. How can we integrate internationally educated health care workers into a program where they will be able to pay the bills, get their credentials and get a permanent job in our system, a permanent job they will stay in?
It's a lot of work, but I think it can be done.