Government also announces initiative to increase apprenticeship training
The University of Manitoba will guarantee residency spots to doctors who pledge to spend at least two years working in remote communities. Starting this fall, the university will provide a two-year training program in the specialty of the student’s choice.
It can be difficult for physicians to secure positions to train for specialities. The university will also increase the number of residency seats for medical students trained in Manitoba.
The announcement was made Tuesday when the provincial government committed $4 million to increase the number of doctors in the province. Funds will also go to increasing the number of foreign-trained doctors licensed to practice in the province.
Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan also announced a $3.8 million initiative to add 1,100 apprenticeships in Manitoba on Tuesday. The province’s 2008 budget also includes a tax credit for businesses hiring journeymen. The apprenticeships will be in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and services industries.
“The 1,100 new apprenticeship seats are an important first step toward our commitment to add an additional 4,000 training spaces over the next four years,” said Swan. “We are also pleased to offer a new incentive for business to encourage increased employer participation in the system as was recommended by the Apprenticeship Futures Commission.”