A Petition With Over 80K Signatures Wants Quebec Nurses Off The Hook For 2021 License Fees

After working tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic, Quebec nurses will soon have to pay to renew their licenses with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) — but a petition with over 80,000 signatures says the fee should be suspended this year. 

All registered nurses and nurse practitioners in Quebec must be members of the OIIQ, the regulatory body for nursing in the province. The annual membership fee is due March 15. 

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Your guardian angels will have to pay $470 to be allowed to work and take care of you.

Nurse X

The fee is $470, according to the founder of the petition, who identified themselves as "Nurse X." 

"This is nonsense! We have been supporting the health care system at arm's length for over a year," wrote Nurse X. 

"We are asking the government and the OIIQ to suspend the payment for the year 2021-2022 as a gesture of support." 

It's easy to understand that the province's healthcare workers might be facing mental health issues and burnout after almost a year on the front lines. 

"I am signing because it is outrageous that nurses are paying to work in these workplaces that are not safe," wrote signee Caroline Dagenais.

Maël Robitaille, who also signed the petition, wrote, "I'm a nurse and I'm tired of busting my butt ... and having no recognition."  

You can check out the petition on Change.org. 

This article's cover photo was used for illustrative purposes only.