The government is promising to fill vacancies where there are shortages of social workers in the province.

Yesterday, the PC critic for children, seniors and social development, Jeff Dwyer, said the situation on the Northern Peninsula is troubling, claiming a ratio of one worker for every 167 clients in the Roddickton area alone.

Minister Brian Warr pledged to rectify the situation. He says there’s a job for every social worker in the province, and if they’re not working it’s their choice.

Warr says he has reached out to NAPE president Jerry Earle, adding there is a working group set up to deal with the issue.