Thank you. Media clips are taken seriously, but they are not comprehensive and they are not always accurate, which is the reason why I’ve asked our staff to go and meet with the grads.

Mr. Speaker, the Graduate Nurses Employment Program is a successful program. It’s one that nursing grads could benefit from. We have currently four graduate nurses employed at Stanton. In 2009 and 2010 there were 10 graduate nurses placed at Stanton and seven in 2008-2009. This is a successful program that allows the grad nurses to transition into a nursing position. They don’t have to go through that program but it’s one of many programs that the government has put in place to transition the nurses into a full-time nursing program. So it’s to their benefit. They don’t have to take that. At no time did I say they were not ready to take on a job. I’m just saying they have to be practice ready for the jobs that are available and we are here to help them.

I want to commit again that we are committed to hiring northern grads. We ask them to work with us and take full advantage of all the programs that we have available.