Ottawa Launches Express Entry for Foreign-Trained Doctors

Ottawa has introduced an “express entry” program aimed at foreign-trained doctors to help address the significant shortage of family physicians in Canada. Announced on October 23, 2023, this initiative targets internationally trained doctors who possess a minimum of one year of Canadian work experience acquired within the last three years. The program represents a strategic effort to mitigate the ongoing gaps in healthcare access across the country.

Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), emphasized the importance of this new program during an interview on CTV’s Your Morning. She stated that while the express entry initiative is a positive step, it is essential to implement further measures to tackle the issue effectively. “We need to increase training spots. We need to retain those individuals working with us,” Burnell noted. “So this is one approach.”

The CMA, in collaboration with St. Michael’s Hospital, conducted a survey revealing that approximately 5.9 million Canadians lack a primary care professional, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Earlier this year, the CMA reported that the country is facing a shortfall of 23,000 family physicians. This shortage underscores the urgency of initiatives like the express entry program.

Under the new program, foreign-trained doctors who receive a nomination from Ottawa will benefit from expedited processing of their work permits, which will now take only 14 days instead of the lengthy periods that can stretch into years. The federal government has allocated a total of 5,000 admission spots specifically for this initiative, in addition to the existing allocations within the Provincial Nominee Program. Provinces and territories will have the opportunity to nominate licensed doctors who have job offers.

Burnell highlighted that successful candidates will need to collaborate with their provincial regulatory bodies to have their training assessed, ensuring that any gaps in their qualifications can be addressed. “That may mean more training, that may mean supervised assessment of their practice capabilities,” she explained. “We want to ensure that these graduates and trainees meet our current standards and are safe to enter the workforce.”

Looking ahead, the CMA plans to closely monitor the impact of this initiative in the coming year. “We’ll be looking to see how many physicians take this opportunity and will be looking to see if access to care for patients improves across the country with this initiative,” Burnell added.

The express entry program represents one of several strategies needed to enhance healthcare accessibility in Canada, a responsibility that continues to grow as the demand for family physicians increases.