SHA still actively recruiting nurses says SHA rep
Emokhare Paul Anthony
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Daily Herald
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill has announced that Saskatchewan’s supply of nurses has grown by more than 2,700, over the last decade—an increase of 18.3 per cent since 2015—and that’s improving care for communities throughout the province, but the opposition NDP says the government is cherry-picking its data.
“Not only does this latest data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that the province’s nursing workforce is growing, it also confirms it is one of the country’s largest on a per capita basis for both urban and rural areas,” Cockrill said in a press release.
Cockrill said a recent report released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), nursing in Canada 2024, shows that the province continues to rank higher than both national and Western Canadian averages in several key supply and workforce measures.
“We recognize that these are not just numbers, but a team of dedicated healthcare professionals helping patients, and their families,” said Cockrill.
The minister said this is why the government has focused all efforts to boost and strengthen the nursing workforce so that the government can deliver strong results and benefit residents and communities across the province.
“Saskatchewan had the highest per 100,000 population of Registered Nurses (1,009) and Nurse Practitioners (23) and the second highest for Licensed Practical Nurses (315) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (64) in Western Canada with nearly 17,500 nurses licensed to work in Saskatchewan in 2024, 1,411 nurses per 100,000 population, the highest per capita supply among all Western Canadian provinces,” said Cockrill.
Cockrill said almost 2,300 nursing graduates were hired by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) between April 2023 and June 2025 with nearly 400 Filipino RNs recruited and working in communities across the province.
“Saskatchewan Health Authority is committed to hiring each and every new nursing graduate in Saskatchewan,” said SHA Chief Human Resources Officer Mike Northcott.
Northcott said the SHA actively recruit nursing and other dedicated health professionals through student outreach, meaningful partnerships and by showcasing how a career in health care offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
“Our nursing and health care team members have a direct impact on the health and well-being of our communities and we are grateful for the quality care they provide every day.”Northcott adds.
Northcott said these efforts have led to a 37 per cent decrease in the number of chronically vacant permanent full and part-time nursing positions overall, with a 50 per cent reduction in rural and remote communities.
“We are committed to continue building on recent gains to support our valued nurses, bring more stability to health services, and ensure Saskatchewan residents across the province have timely, reliable access to care, as close to home as possible. “said Lori Carr, Rural and Remote Health Minister.
Carr said that all of these improvements demonstrate the success of the HHR Action Plan in strengthening Saskatchewan’s nursing workforce.
In reaction, Saskatchewan NDP shadow minister for health Meara Conway said the government is once again trying to paint a rosy picture with cherry-picked statistics, but the reality for patients and front-line healthcare workers tells a very different story.
“The most recent CIHI data shows that Saskatchewan lost approximately 230 fulltime registered nurses in a single year and as of today, there are still 1,578 vacant healthcare positions on the government’s website that the Sask. Party is struggling to fill,” said Conway.
Conway said while the Sask. Party is desperately trying to replace doctors with webcams in rural emergency rooms, their recruitment and retention of healthcare workers has failed so thoroughly that they’re turning to costly band-aids like travel nurses and unsustainable overtime.
“Their tired and out of touch approach undermines quality of care, worsens burnout for existing healthcare providers, and leaves nothing to invest in real, long-term solutions,” Conway added.
Conway concluded that after 18 years in power, it’s more and more clear the Sask. Party has broken our healthcare system and can’t be trusted to fix it.
editorial@paherald.sk.ca
