Alberta’s effort to address critical health care shortages in smaller communities has received a significant boost through a provincial immigration initiative. The Dedicated Health Care Pathway, introduced in April 2023, has already facilitated the recruitment of 380 international health care professionals to the province, with a considerable number taking up positions outside Calgary and Edmonton, according to the province.
The pathway, part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, aims to attract and retain skilled health professionals who have been authorized to practice in Alberta and have secured job offers within the province’s health care sector. Since its inception, the program has seen notable success, particularly in its goal of bolstering health care services in rural areas.
According to Alberta’s Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Muhammad Yaseen, the program’s impact has been both immediate and widespread.
“I am proud of the incredible success of the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, and very pleased to see so many experienced health professionals going to areas outside of Calgary and Edmonton,” Yaseen said. “With this program, we are increasing timely access to care for Albertans, no matter where they live.”
In 2023, the program nominated 122 health care professionals, of whom nearly half were assigned to communities outside the province’s two largest cities. In the first half of 2024, an additional 258 professionals were nominated, with more than 150 destined for smaller municipalities. The pathway supports nine professions, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s Minister of Health, emphasized the program’s role in the province’s broader health care strategy.
“We are committed to recruiting and retaining health care workers in Alberta by reducing barriers and improving opportunities for them,” LaGrange stated. “Through the Alberta Health Workforce Strategy, programs like the Dedicated Health Care Pathway provide solutions for those who come to work in health care in our province to stay and build a life here.”
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which includes the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, plays a crucial role in addressing the province’s labour challenges across various sectors. Athana Mentzelopoulos, president and CEO of Alberta Health Services, acknowledged the program’s contribution, particularly in attracting international nurses. “The Government of Alberta has been responsive to the urgent need for more health care professionals, and we are grateful for the continued support and collaboration,” she said.