The government has struck an agreement with Nova Scotia to fund 57 English-language training seats in nine allied health programs at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
It will invest $21 million over five years to secure the preferred admission of New Brunswick students into training programs not offered in their home province, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
"Health care is our number one priority, and we are committed to ensuring New Brunswickers have the care they need, when and where they need it," said Premier Susan Holt. "Allied health-care workers, like pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dentists, play an important role in caring for New Brunswickers. This agreement will create a pipeline of skilled allied health professionals and ensure New Brunswickers can access the care they need."
Allied health professionals provide a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and support services.
The programs and allotment of training seats under the agreement are: pharmacy (16 seats), physiotherapy (15 seats), occupational therapy (12 seats), dentistry (five seats), physician assistant (three seats), speech language pathology (three seats), audiology (one seat), diagnostic ultrasound (one seat), and nuclear medicine technology (one seat).
The professions included in the agreement are based on New Brunswick's priority health-care workforce needs.
"We recognize there is a shortage of allied health professionals in our province, and we know the need will grow in the coming years," said Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D'Amours. "By investing in training seats next door in Nova Scotia, we are ensuring that New Brunswick students will have improved access to allied health education close to home."
Adding these seats is a workforce initiative in the government's provincial health plan, Caring for New Brunswick: Putting People at the Heart of Healthcare, released earlier this month.
"Allied health professionals play a significant role in our health-care system," said Health Minister John Dornan. "Every day, they help patients recover, improve their well-being and get the care they need. Our government understands how important these positions are, and we are committed to supporting the next generation of allied health professionals."
New Brunswick will fund a total of 98 allied health training seats by the fall of 2026. The government already funds 41 French-language allied health training seats at universities in Quebec.
"The demand for our services is increasing, and it can be challenging to find health-care professionals to staff the clinic," said Kelly O'Donnell, owner of Foundation Health Centre P.C. "Ensuring New Brunswick students have opportunities to study is a step in the right direction and one we hope will help us meet the needs of our clients."
The government is also working with the Université de Moncton to launch New Brunswick's first program to train physiotherapists, beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.
This is the first formal seat agreement between the governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for training seats with Dalhousie University's allied health programs.
"We've had strong relationships with our Atlantic neighbours for many years, and we're pleased to build on that partnership by giving post-secondary students access to high-demand health education programs, close to home," said Nova Scotia Advanced Education Minister Brendan Maguire. "Working together helps remove barriers between our provinces, strengthens our collective health-care workforce, and ensures more students can train and build their careers in the communities that need them most."
"Dalhousie University has a proud history of educating health professionals who serve communities across Atlantic Canada," said Kim Brooks, the university's president and vice-chancellor. "We have worked closely with the Province of New Brunswick on initiatives such as the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick program in Saint John and via hospital and clinic partners in the region that provide important training opportunities for our students. Through this new agreement, more New Brunswickers can pursue rewarding careers in the allied health professions that are vital to the region's future."
