For those considering Canada, read on...

As the financial crisis deepens in the US, Canada is also feeling the pain. It was thought that we'd feel less impact because of differences in our methods and systems, but the truth is that we aren't immune to it at all. There were more than 129,000 jobs lost in Canada in January alone. Most of them were in the manufacturing sector, but not all.

HAMILTON–Layoff notices go out next week to 250 staff as Hamilton Health Sciences cuts $21 million from its budget.
The hospital has already axed 49 corporate jobs to save $4 million. It also plans to save cash by having fewer nurses per patient and less-skilled workers providing care.
St. Joseph's Healthcare, which has predicted 175 job cuts, will tell its staff Feb. 2 its plans to reduce a $12 million deficit.
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/575245

Hospital Unions Projecting 5,000 Job Losses, Serious Cutbacks to Patient Care if McGuinty Fails to Address Hospital Underfunding

Monday, January 12, 2009
TORONTO, Jan. 12 /CNW/ - In a joint press conference this morning, leadership from four major hospital unions representing more than 80,000 hospital staff warned of large scale job losses and downsizing in Ontario's hospitals. In a briefing note, the unions warned that underfunding at currently planned levels translates into a cutback of 5,000 full time jobs and more than 9 million hours of patient care. Serious hospital cutbacks are threatened at hospitals of every size (small, medium and large) in every region of Ontario.

"Hospital downsizing is already resulting in longer waits for patients, user fees for patients, and loss of services," noted Patty Rout, Vice President and Treasurer of OPSEU.
http://www.seiulocal1.org/Hospital_U...erfunding.aspx

Most of the nursing job losses have been in Ontario, but that doesn't mean the rest of the country will be safe.

Alberta health care to suffer as government tightens its belt


Appointments raise concerns of privatization

Jason Fekete, Calgary Herald

Published: Friday, November 21, 2008
Provincial Health Minister Ron Liepert warned Albertans on Thursday to gird for difficult decisions ahead on health care as the government grapples with what's likely to be reduced revenues next year and some tough-love budgeting.(...)
The board will also closely examine all health-care supplier contracts to ensure the province is getting value for money, he added, while staffing requirements will "continue to change" as the system evolves.
"There's going to have to be tighter belts," Hughes said. "We are going to change the way we deliver health care in Alberta."
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald...b-af954b833708

It is entirely possible that the recruitment of IENs will drop off sharply as the Canadian employment picture worsens. While Canada is not currently considering a moratorium on hiring nurses from abroad, it may reach that point. Please be aware and prepared for it should it come to that. Also consider the position of your spouse or other supporting person who will be job-seeking in Canada who may now have severely limited possibilities. Take nothing for granted. If you want it badly enough, you'll have to be willing to fight.