News Release

MONCTON (GNB) – The provincial government has entered into a 10-year funding agreement with the Université de Moncton to encourage increased enrolment in the bachelor of nursing program and reward the university for graduating nurses.

Under the agreement the university will receive up to $1.19 million each year for graduating nurses above a baseline of 126. The government will provide $35,000 to for each graduate above this baseline, up to 160 per year, supporting up to 34 additional seats.

“Training more nursing students will help us fill our critical need for nurses,” said Glen Savoie, minister responsible for La Francophonie. “The majority of our new nurses come through our bachelor of nursing programs and we are proud to partner with the Université de Moncton in these efforts. This agreement shows our commitment to addressing the shortage of nurses and to getting results.”

Savoie made the announcement on behalf of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder.

The agreement aligns with the enhancement of nursing education in New Brunswick action item as part of the Nursing Resources Strategy released in 2019. It is also in line with the auditor general’s 2019 recommendation that the department provide funding only after desired outcomes or targets have been achieved.

“As part of our new provincial health plan, the government has committed to working with post-secondary institutions to develop innovative education and clinical training models,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “This new approach will encourage our universities to increase enrolment in our nursing programs and recruit a new generation of nurses towards a fulfilling career.”

Over the ten years of the agreement, the university could receive up to $12 million.

“The funding announced today encourages us to continue fulfilling our mission to train creative and engaged nurses, to innovate in health-care services, and to provide safe and high-quality care to the entire population,” said Denis Prud’homme, president and vice-chancellor of the Université de Moncton. “This announcement will also allow us to target the international market by building on the recruitment of francophone students from Africa, Belgium, France and Switzerland.”

The university must submit reports to the department each year validating the number of graduates above the baseline threshold and providing details on successes or barriers to meeting its goal.