OTTAWA, ON, April 10, 2025 – Canada must move swiftly to entice American medical and scientific experts who are feeling undervalued in the U.S. due to mass layoffs and the elimination of health programs and research positions under the Trump administration. While this situation presents significant challenges for Canada, it also creates unique opportunities.
There are increasing reports of U.S. medical graduates considering practicing in Canada, indicated by a surge in registrations to an online portal that assists Canadian and international medical graduates with the initial steps toward obtaining licensure. Several Provinces , , , and have taken steps to ease obstacles and boost recruitment. Various health organizations, such as Toronto’s , medical associations like and municipalities like have also launched innovative recruitment initiatives.
This development is welcome news for Canadians in need of health care and health workers requiring support. However, physician and health worker recruitment cannot be a fragmented, piecemeal effort; it requires national prioritization.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is urging the federal government to simplify processes to facilitate the entry of health professionals into Canada’s health workforce more efficiently. This includes updating immigration policies to support the recruiting efforts of hospitals, health authorities, provinces, and territories. The government should also utilize ministerial exemptions to establish a streamlined, expedited pathway for qualified U.S. physicians and other health professionals to join Canada’s health workforce more easily.
We also urge each federal party leader to commit to these actions to improve access to care. With approximately 6.5 million Canadians lacking consistent access to primary care, governments must utilize all available resources to ensure the health system can provide necessary care. Canada has a significant opportunity to capitalize on this influx of talent and become a leading scientific and medical hub.
Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA
SOURCE Canadian Medical Association
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