Image: The Hospital Employees’ Union urges Ottawa to revise its immigration program as hundreds risk job loss. / HEU

By Alyssa Conti

JOB CUTS

Hundreds of B.C. health care workers risk deportation after cuts to immigration program

Feb 2, 2025 | 12:45 PM

CHILLIWACK — Over 500 health care workers in Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal are expected to face deportation after the federal government slashed its immigration targets this year.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was designed to attract skilled workers looking to become permanent residents in Canada.

Last year, British Columbia had 8,000 PNP spaces. They have since been reduced to 4,000.

According to the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU), the visa program has been helping with staffing shortages in the health care industry since 2022.

“With fewer spaces available, hundreds of experienced health care workers – including care aides, housekeepers, dietary aides, and clerical staff – are now at risk of deportation annually for the next several years,” said Lynn Bueckert, secretary-business manager for HEU in a news release Thursday (Jan. 30).

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“These workers provide and support direct care for patients, or clean and serve food in our hospitals but currently are on visas and need this program to stay working in Canada.”

The union is now urging Ottawa to revise its changes.

“We must retain experienced workers who have shown their commitment to our health care system, as B.C. hospitals can’t deliver services without enough staff.”

HEU represents over 60,000 members and is B.C.’s largest health care union.