Belarus couple denied seats at Dalhousie

At the April 28 municipal council meeting, Thiurber said the couple had not won seats they had applied for in Dalhousie University programs.

Successful completion of the programs would have qualified the Stubedas, medical professionals in their native Belarus, to be doctors in Nova Scotia.

The Municipality of Digby, in negotiations with them since the summer of 2007, had offered the Stubedas incentives totaling $187,000 to cover the costs of their Canadian retraining.

Had they successfully completed their Dalhousie programs, they would have set up practice in Digby County by August 2010, and committed to a 10-year contract.

Municipal councilors believed their sponsorship of the couple might increase the Stubedas' chances of winning placement at Dalhousie. The university offers a limited number of seats to international graduates.

Thurber said he is still optimistic the county will have new doctors within a year or two.