The StarPhoenix contacted some of the health-care representatives, who revealed that it was really shocking to hear that the maximum income earned by a registered nurse in Saskatoon is more than $250,000.

Barbara Cape, President of the Service Employees International Union-West, which is a representative of licensed practical nurses and many other employees in the city shared that there is a dearth of health-care workers.

She said, “That is a clear signal. It's the match that starts the fire. People see that and they immediately think, 'It's too much money.' But the root cause is there's not enough people working in health care”.

Two registered nurses were earning a sum of $213,868 and $252,609 respectively, and they were among the top 15 earners in the Saskatoon Health Region, in 2009-10. A nurse, who belonged to the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, was earning $243,540.

The basic salary for nurses ranges from $63,569 to $84,168. The nurses, who were earning higher incomes of more than $200,000, were found to be doing overtime. The system has failed to make the full use of all of its workers, for instance, licensed practical nurses, which is unfortunate.

The issue of the full use of LPNs was also raised by Gordon Campbell, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees health-care council.