Manitoba launches campaign to recruit health-care workers from U.S. states facing political challenges

The Manitoba government has launched a campaign to attract health-care workers from U.S. border states as the province continues to face medical staffing shortages and political tensions have some American medical professionals looking north.

The government said in a Wednesday news release it is actively courting health-care workers from North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan and Minnesota.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the campaign — digital ads that will cost $50,000 over eight weeks — could broaden to other states, if needed. 

"We recognize that they're facing some tough challenges right now in the United States and we want them to know that Manitoba will welcome you with open arms, " Asagwara told CBC News at the legislature in Winnipeg on Wednesday. 

Some U.S. states have placed limitations on physicians who offer gender-affirming care and reproductive care services to patients.

For example, abortion is illegal in South Dakota, according to the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights. And both South Dakota and North Dakota have put limitations on gender-affirming care for youth. 

Last month, Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Joss Reimer said health cuts and layoffs south of the border could be a boon for Canada. 

"We really have a window to be able to find a silver lining in all of the things that are happening in the U.S. — to bring a wealth of expertise and physicians to Canada," she said.

Asagwara said Manitoba's government won't put any political barriers in front of health-care workers. 

"We have a universal public health-care system where you can just focus on providing the best care possible to your patients. And we want to make sure that folks know we value women's health care, gender-affirming health care and health care for everybody, no matter how you identify or where you come from," Asagwara said. 

"You don't have to worry about profits over people." 

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP) said in a statement to CBC News that the organization hopes the campaign can successfully recruit U.S. workers to "fill huge staffing gaps" in the province. 

However, MAHCP president Jason Linklater said the campaign likely won't be enough to fill the more than 1,000 vacant allied health positions, including pharmacists, paramedics, respiratory therapists and laboratory technologists. 

"Manitoba needs a comprehensive, forward-looking allied health human resource strategy. Recruiting from the U.S. can be part of that but government must also move more quickly to improve working conditions, expand training opportunities and create new incentives for Manitobans to enter into these high-demand, specialized professions," Linklater said. 

Shortly after the U.S. election last November, Doctors Manitoba — an advocacy organization that represents thousands of physicians across the province — launched a similar ad campaign to recruit doctors from North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida.