N.B. premier says ‘nobody is going to lose their job’ with plan to move nurses to new roles

New Brunswick MLAs discussed the redeployment of nurses during question period at the legislature.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says “nobody is going to lose their job” under a plan to move some nurses to different roles within the health-care system.

The reassignment of nurses to new positions dominated question period in the legislature for a third day. The topic was first raised last week by the Progressive Conservative Official Opposition. Interim PC Leader Glen Savoie said some nurses have been given ultimatums to either accept new roles or face potential layoffs.

“Nurses have told me very clearly that these actions will and are having impacts on health care,” said Savoie.

Premier Holt told reporters after Tuesday’s question period that no changes have yet been finalized.

“This work is just getting started,” said Holt. “No one has been redeployed, there’s been no notices of redeployment going out. I think it’s a little irresponsible of Mr. Savoie to be fear-mongering.”

When asked what changes could happen, and when, Holt said nothing within the plan was certain.

“It might happen because this is the work we’re evaluating,” said Holt. “What’s the best way we can use our nurses and who can go where, and wants to go where? Who doesn’t want to go and change positions, and how can we make the best use of all the nurses that we have to better improve our results for New Brunswickers who aren’t getting the health services that they need?”

On Monday, New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucet said the collective agreement for nurses included language for “workforce adjustments,” adding the NBNU hadn’t received any official work of changes affecting its membership.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.