Three health care unions say a Crown Health Care Recruitment Agency will not solve staffing challenges in provincial hospitals.

The Saskatchewan Government Employees, Canadian Union of Public Employees and SEIU West have issued a joint news release. They call the crown agency ”another layer of bureaucratic smoke and mirrors.”

The union suggests adding more seats to education programs, increasing compensation, as well as ensuring vacation time and work-life balance are honoured.

The news release also says the unions have tried for years to discuss recruitment and retention strategies, but the provincial government did not listen.