Despite a global shortage of healthcare workers, John Rustad and his BC Conservative caucus are opposing the BC NDP government’s campaign to recruit American healthcare workers.

Last week, the BC NDP government took the program to Seattle, handing out coffee to healthcare workers to spark conversations about working in B.C. BC Conservative MLAs are attacking the recruitment program:

Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs: “I actually thought this was fake news. Or a spam account, or a troll. I’m dumbfounded. Free coffee! Yay, let’s move to BC. What an irresponsible, reckless, idiotic, waste of tax payers money.” (X, June 23)

Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird: “BC fired thousands of healthcare workers over mandates—now they’ve rolled into the US with a food truck to recruit replacements…Rehire local workers.” (X, June 21)

“BC doesn’t need coffee trucks and recruitment tours.” (X, June 20)

Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew: “We need a fundamental reset, not just more fresh meat for a meat grinder.” (X, June 20)

Kelowna Centre MLA Kristina Loewen: “Actual ad from Gov of BC. Am I the only one who finds this embarrassing?” (Instagram, June 21)

Langley-Abbotsford MLA Harman Bhangu: “How much did that consulting advice cost us? If we can’t get our money back from China, can we at least get a refund for this cringe photo op?” (X, June 21)

This campaign has already shown promising results, with 1,600 people expressing interest in moving to the province, including 714 doctors and 554 nurses. Streamlined credentials approvals process means nurses can be registered in days instead of months.

Josie Osborne, Minister of Health:

“We’re facing a global shortage of healthcare workers and we need to be doing everything possible to train and recruit more workers to B.C., including taking creative approaches like this one. This campaign is a common sense and effective action to bring doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to B.C. It’s disappointing to see the BC Conservatives standing against this important campaign. The BC Conservative plan for Trump-style, for-profit healthcare would make it so much harder to recruit and retain the workers we need for our public healthcare system.”