In recent days, the Quebec (Canada) healthcare system has opened a recruitment campaign aimed at Italian nurses, offering economic conditions and insertion packages that are very far from the average standards in Italy. The mission, called “Italie 2026,” focuses on two Montreal facilities with a historic Italian cultural imprint: the Santa Cabrini hospital and the Dante long-term care center.
Over 8 thousand Canadian dollars (more than 5 thousand euros)
The economic proposal provides for a gross monthly salary that varies between 4,380 and 8,140 Canadian dollars, approximately 3,700 and 5,100 euros. These are figures that in many cases triple the average Italian salaries, currently stable between 1,700 and 1,900 euros net. In addition to the salary, the Quebec government offers reimbursement of relocation expenses and airline tickets, coverage of immigration costs and free French language courses.
The requirements
To participate in the selection, a degree in nursing and at least one year of professional experience in clinical contexts are required. Since French is the official language of the local healthcare system, candidates are required to have an intermediate level of knowledge (B2), which is essential to obtain the qualification from the Quebec professional order (Oiiq). A good command of Italian is also required due to the specific nature of the structures involved.
The healthcare crisis
The Canadian initiative intervenes at a time of crisis for Italian healthcare, where the structural shortage of personnel is estimated at tens of thousands of units. The high workloads and heavy shifts of the national health service make foreign offers particularly competitive. For trade unions, the real risk is an acceleration of the flight of qualified professionals towards more attractive and better paid healthcare systems.