Health Minister's Response to Nurses' Profession-Related Fees Disappointing

Following the BC Nurses' Union's various and ongoing appeals for relief for nurses from the continued fee and liability insurance costs, BCNU has now received responses from the BC Ministry of Health, BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS). All of whom justify the decision to raise 2021-22 college license fees for nurses.

The union is particularly disappointed in the BC health minister's response in defence of the BCCNM, in which he justifies its decision to raise rates given the increased workload the college has undertaken in response to the pandemic and opioid health crises. In doing so, the minister is not respecting the valid concerns of thousands of nurses nor is he giving this issue the importance it deserves. Retaining and recruiting nurses to provide the care British Columbians need demands more attention be paid to deterrents such as excessive professional fees and insurance costs.

As has been the case for over a decade, BCNU remains perplexed as to why some government employees may have their regulatory fees covered and yet, despite outcries by nurses themselves and the union, the government fails to see the impact this near-sighted approach has on contributing to the critical nursing shortage facing BC's health care system.