Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

ARVIAT (Jun 02/99) - Arviat is trying to launch a new approach that would use subsidized rent as a recruitment tool in an attempt to address the Keewatin nursing shortage.

Arviat SAO Darren Flynn said all government assets are available for transfer to the municipalities under community empowerment. He said Arviat has suggested the Keewatin Regional Health Board (KRHB) transfer ownership of its nursing station residence to the hamlet and sign a contribution agreement for annual operation and maintenance.

"We would then be the owners of the building and willing to sign an agreement to make it available to nursing professionals on a rental basis to give us a number of options," said Flynn.

"We could charge cheap rent period. Or, we could charge $1,000 per month rent and, if the nurse stays a year, rebate them $250 a month at the end of the year.

"If they stayed two years, rebate them $500 a month. You could even decrease the rent in increments for each year of service so it then becomes a recruiting tool. Right now, the KRHB gets zero dollars in the form of rent. It flushes through whoever the rental agent is, but the health board, apparently, doesn't want to see that."

Flynn said the KRHB seems to be afraid of setting a dangerous precedent with subsidizing nurses, but says incentives must be offered to attract long-term professionals.

"What's really annoying right now is you hire an agency nurse and they pay next to nothing for rent, if they pay anything at all. Then you take a nurse who's been here seven years and she's paying $1,200 or $1,300 a month to rent an apartment."

KRHB member Gordie Main raised the Arviat proposal at a recent health board meeting. He said many long-term nurses in communities across the Keewatin are tired of going without the benefits short-term caregivers receive during their stay.

"Nurses in other centres felt put out by this because they pay high rent. Free rent for temporary help is setting the dangerous precedent. I'm not sure why we can't seem to subsidize nurses' rent. Arviat has come forward with a good proposal and one we should address.

"The biggest reason we have trouble keeping nurses is that they see every second cheque going out on rent."

KRHB CEO Dr. Keith Best said free rent was only offered to address a crisis situation in Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet, adding any proposal which could improve health care or recruitment in the region will be seriously considered.

"The nurses who received those benefits came up here to address a near crisis situation and give us time for long-term recruitment," said Best. "Although some might think it was unfair, it was the best decision we could make at the time.

"We have nurses right now who are frustrated -- not just over incentives, but overall working conditions. There are many variables to be considered in the Arviat proposal, but it will be looked at to see if it would be beneficial to our region."