Gateway for Indonesian Labour to Canada Opens Wider

Fredericton – The working visit of the Indonesian Ambassador to Canada, Muhammad (note: actual name Muhsin) to Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada on 19-20 May 2026 is described as bringing fresh momentum to Indonesia–Canada cooperation in the health sector. A gateway for workers in other sectors is also opening wider. The visit followed a Memorandum of Understanding between KP2MI and the Department of Health of New Brunswick, signed in mid-2025. As demand for services, healthcare professionals, and the growth of new health facilities increases, demand for skilled health workers is increasing, and Indonesia is viewed as a potential supplier. “New Brunswick needs skilled health workers. This cooperation could bring competent nurses from Indonesia to work in the health sector and elder-care services in New Brunswick,” said the New Brunswick Health Minister, John Dornan. The Honourable Louise Imbeault, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, and several ministers present at the meeting saw the cooperation as a positive step for Indonesia and Canada toward broader coverage. New Brunswick Immigration Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours remains optimistic about prospects for further collaboration with Indonesia in New Brunswick, particularly in health services, education, and construction. During the visit, Ambassador Muhsin also met with representatives of two leading health-care facility groups in New Brunswick: Horizon Health Network at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, and Shannex at Niall & Medley Hall Nursing Home. He urged the Department of Health and the two companies to ensure that New Brunswick becomes a safe and welcoming home and workplace for Indonesian nurses stationed there. “This cooperation opens new opportunities for Indonesian professionals and represents Indonesia’s contribution to supporting the health sector in Canada,” said Ambassador Muhsin. The agreement between KP2MI and the Province of New Brunswick on health workforce is expected to move into the recruitment phase soon in autumn 2026, with the first intake anticipated in the first semester of 2027. To support the agreement, Ambassador Muhsin also explored potential collaboration to strengthen Indonesian nursing human resources with the University of New Brunswick. In recent times, UNB has collaborated with universities from other countries and opened similar cooperation opportunities with Indonesian nursing education institutions. In addition to follow-up on the agreement, the visit was used to explore cooperation in other areas. In renewable energy, a meeting with NB Power and a tour of the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research at UNB provided a forum for exchanging ideas on the use of nuclear energy to meet Indonesia’s electricity needs as outlined by the Government of Indonesia. In the trade sector, a meeting with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce discussed opportunities for trade and investment that leverage the momentum of the Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) signed in September 2025.