Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Over the weekend of February 15-16, twenty new international nurses arrived in the Gaspé Peninsula to lend a hand at the Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS), which is facing issues of a significant shortage of healthcare workers. 

Before practicing their trade, the nurses must complete a one-year refresher program at the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles. 

This third cohort of international nurses is assigned to healthcare facilities in Gaspé and Maria. “With manpower needs everywhere, but more so in these two sectors. The accessibility of our modular accommodations facilitated the arrival and integration of these people are the factors that were taken into account,” says Jean-François Cassivi, Assistant to the Director of Human Resources at CISSS. 

The nurses come from Morocco, the Congo and Haiti. “It’s very diverse,” notes Mr. Cassivi. 

This cohort was recruited before the moratorium that no longer allows nurses to be recruited from certain African countries. 

About forty nurses were recruited in the first two cohorts. “The vast majority of people stayed with the CISSS de la Gaspésie. We’re very happy,” says Mr. Cassivi. 

These 60 or so caregivers have had a major impact on healthcare services offered in the Gaspé Peninsula. 

“These are resources that complement our work team. Since the student pool is not sufficient, we lack human resources at this level. It has become essential to seek this help,” explains the administrator. 

For the moment, there are no plans for a fourth cohort. “The work is being done with the Ministry of Immigration and Francisation. We are waiting for instructions for the next steps,” he says. 

On February 14, the daily newspaper Le Devoir reported cases of racism at the hospital involving some of these international nurses. 

“Without going into details, we have raised awareness. We are taking the situation seriously. We will have to intervene, have discussions with the people involved. For us, as an institution, racism in any form has a zero tolerance,” says Mr. Cassivi. 

He clarified that, while concerns have been raised, no concrete wrongdoing was found. “We did not have any clear evidence that would have led to reprimands. We do not want to remain on perceptions. We want to intervene so that there are no racist behaviours or actions,” says Mr. Cassivi. 

At the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, officials emphasize that such alleged incidents are rare 

The coordinating teacher at the CISSS has denounced the situation. “There were interventions that were made. The students also changed shifts. The situation has improved,” emphasized Éric Couillard, the coordinator of continuing education at the CEGEP, in an interview with CHNC. “The students have been very well received in the other internships in recent years. The staff is attentive,” he adds.