As political tensions And Health care layoffs Roil the United States, a wave of American doctors seems to be looking for the north for new opportunities – and the Canadian provinces and recruiters take note.
With Canada doctor shortage In growth, the provinces and healthcare agencies seek to exploit this interest, in the hope of bringing more qualified professionals to help fill the gaps in patient care.
The Canada Medical Council (MCC) told Global News the number of American medicine graduates opening accounts on Physiciansapply.ca – A key step towards obtaining a medical license in Canada – increased by 583% between October 2024 and March 2025 compared to the same period last year.
“In addition, we have observed a slight increase in requests for information from medicine graduates at our service office. In the past two months, our agents have received around 100 calls per month of the United States, marking an increase of 33% compared to September and October 2024”, a MCC spokesperson for Global News in an email on Tuesday.
This trend is crucial because Canada continues to face Doctors shortages,, Burnout of health workers And long waiting times of the emergency room.
The potential influx of American doctors presents an opportunity to relieve some of these pressures, to fill the essential gaps in the Canada health system, explained Michelle Flynn, COO of the recruitment of doctors of Canam, a recruitment of health care based in Nova Scotia.
The company helps doctors navigating in Canada license and accreditation systems, working with them to ensure that they are properly certified to practice in Canada.
Although they help doctors around the world, many of their customers are based in the United States
“We have always worked with many of us, doctors wishing to come to Canada. However, there has been a very marked increase in recent months, “she said. “I would say, for the moment, almost all the doctors I am talking about are from the United States”
Some are Canadians who are currently training in the United States and hoped to go back, she said, while many others are American citizens who seek to practice in Canada.
So why move to Canada?
Flynn says that there are many factors that push doctors to go north, but a great concern for many American doctors is the political climate and the way health care, especially women’s health care, is managed and changing.
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Many of them also think of their families, she said.
“They raise concerns about wanting to raise their children in a safer and more kind society. There are certainly a lot of factors that come into play here, ”she said.
While some doctors simply wonder about work in Canada, Flynn has added that many are already moving and obtaining their references.
Due to the growing interest in work in Canada, she declared that she generally carried out three interviews of candidates per day, three days a week. But with the demand for demand – up 60% in the last 90 days – she had to take more time to meet doctors who are looking to take the plunge.
As for Canadians who seek to work in the United States, she said that employment opportunities are also presented.
“And I’m not getting takers,” said Flynn.
She said that she hoped that more American doctors will go to Canada, helping to fill the gaps in the shortage of country doctors.
“I mean, that will not fill out all the positions we have, but it certainly helps,” she added.
The provinces are taking the interest of the American doctor
It is not only recruiters who seek to bring in American medical talent – the provinces also jump on the opportunity.
Manitoba doctors was actively recruit American doctorsEven broadcast advertisements in Florida, southern Dakota and Northern Dakota.
The CEO of doctors Manitoba, Theresa Oswald, said that this push comes from a model they have seen before – when changes in the US government make doctors have the impression that politics interferes with patient care.
“We have seen more than thirty questions to our advertising on the positive points of the practice of Manitoba,” Oswald said in a statement.
“Although we are not the official recruitment organization of the Manitoba province, we want to highlight the opportunity here so that doctors in the United States and elsewhere will see the increase in practicing in Manitoba.”
And with questions concerning abortion rights and affirmative care in certain states, Oswald says they are trying to jump on the doctor’s dissatisfaction.
“Doctors want to be able to have this relationship with their patients, whatever they need,” said Oswald.
The British Columbia Government, as well as the Columbia-British Columbia Doctors and Surgeons strive to bring more doctors and nurses from the United States by accelerating the recognition of diplomas and deploying a targeted recruitment campaign.
In a statement published on March 11British Columbia has announced that doctors trained in the United States with a certification of the American Board of Medical Specialties could soon obtain a fully approved license in the province without the need for additional assessments, exams or training.
This decision removes obstacles for us, the doctors who seek to practice in British Columbia
These rationalized license practices are already in place in provinces such as Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
“With the uncertainty and chaos that take place south of our border, we have an unprecedented opportunity to attract qualified health workers interested in moving to Canada,” said British Columbia Minister Josie Osborne, in the press release.
“Our message to doctors and nurses working in the United States is that it’s time to come to British Columbia. We will welcome you to our beautiful province where, together, we can strengthen public health care, provide services for people and build healthy communities. ”
The provinces also plan to progress targeted recruitment and marketing campaigns in Washington, Oregon and California in the spring.
– With Global News’ Kevin Hirschfield files