The 2022 budget contains some significant changes for healthcare and education.
The budget includes plans to consolidate the four regional health authorities into one, however government says it is too early to say if there will be any job losses.
The CEOs of the health authorities were told about the changes last night. Government says the transition will “ensure consistency and collaboration across the province.”
A consultation process is expected, and Health Minister John Haggie says amalgamating the health authorities could take 12 to 18 months.
In addition to the health authorities, the faculties of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and others will be integrated into one healthcare faculty, which government says will help provide “cross-functional knowledge and support.” However, it’s not known who will operate that single faculty. $3-million has been allocated to increase seats in MUN’s Faculty of Nursing by 25 per cent, and increase seats in some of CNA’s healthcare programs.
Government also plans to modernize and integrate the road and air ambulance system with a centralized medical dispatch for the province, and $10-million to re-design and expand the Health Sciences’ emergency room.
Under education, the provincial government is continuing with transitioning the English School District into the Education department.
$35-million has been set aside for infrastructure, including $10.2-million over two years to convert the former School for the Deaf into a new francophone school. Grades 7 to 12 will begin at the school this September, with plans for the remaining grades to attend the school the following year.
Government is planning to build new schools in Cartwright, Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, and Kenmount Terrace, as well as redevelop Dorset Collegiate in Pilley’s Island.
Projected enrolment in the K-12 system is expected to increase by 1,000 students this year, and as such $11.6-million has been set aside to meet those demands.
On the post-secondary front, MUN and CNA’s operating grants remain the same, however MUN is getting an extra $54.3-million for their Faculty of Medicine.
There’s $6-million to assist with MUN’s transition off the tuition freeze, and 18.6 million for student aid.
