Foreign-trained midwifery students say Sask. shutting them out

Some midwifery students say Saskatchewan is not letting them get the practical experience they need to graduate.

Two students took their concerns to the legislature Thursday, asking health minister to intervene.

The students say Saskatchewan's College of Midwives does not recognize training taken outside Canada.

Angie Evans is a student at the Midwives College of Utah.

Evans lives in Regina and wants to finish her practical work here, but the Saskatchewan rules won't allow that.

"If I can't graduate, I can't go through the process of being licensed and working as a midwife here," Evans said, adding that will make it harder for women to find a midwife. "There are far more requests for midwifery care than the midwives are able to take."

Evans called on the province to get involved.

Health minister Don McMorris said decisions about training and licensing should be made by the College of Midwives.

"It's not my call," McMorris said. "We need to allow the professional organizations to determine what standards, credentials these people need to have. They're the ones that are looking to ensure public safety."

The college says it only recognizes midwifery education programs from Canadian universities or an equivalent program.