A paramedic recruiter is welcoming new incentives announced by the province to attract more people who want to become a primary care paramedic or emergency medical responder.
At the official opening of a new EHS Regional Station in Antigonish County, Antigonish MLA and Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson revealed the province will cover full tuition costs for more than 460 people interested in working in the profession. In return paramedics must work in the province for four years and emergency medical responders for two years.
Covering the tuition will cost the province $6.83 million.
Recruiter Doug Allen says there’s never been an easier pathway to become a paramedic.
Allen also says some of the 30 Australian paramedics who committed to come to Nova Scotia have begun to arrive.
The first 13 paramedics arrive over the next month, others will be coming early next year. This follows an in-person recruitment effort by the province in Australia earlier this year.