Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition has released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses from St. Paul’s Hospital which suggests Saskatchewan nurses are seeing less support than out-of-province travel nurses. The letter sent to Health Minister Everett Hindley says the over reliance on out-of-province travel nurses is eroding morale, making staffing issues worse and costing money.

Nurses say that the wages of the contract nurses’ wages range from $90 to $130 per hour, which is nearly triple what they make. As well, the contract workers don’t have to pay for a place to live, because that is provided for them and some of their meals are compensated. They also get picked up and dropped off at work by an Uber, and it is alleged that contract nurses get first access to extra hours, which makes it challenging for casual and part time employees to reach full time hours.

The NDP points to data from the Health Ministry which suggests there are 242 travel nurses currently working in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses predicts that the province is on track to spend $70 million on travel nurses in 2024. The official opposition tabulates that to mean the province is paying approximately $289,256 for each travel nurse.

Click here for the letter:  Nurses Letter_Redacted