The announced provisions will broaden immigration pathways and make it easier for new immigrant physicians to remain in Canada as permanent residents. 

Canadian communities recognize foreign-born and trained family doctors' vital role in providing service to our communities and ageing populations. In response, the IRCC is making it easier for physicians to access the permanent residence program. Physicians are now exempt from current requirements that had previously refused express entry to fee-for-service workers. 

 

Our healthcare system is a valuable resource in keeping Canadians healthy. However, statistics show a genuine need for more trained medical professionals in our healthcare system. Moreover, the shortage of trained physicians affects ageing populations who require greater access to medical care frequently.

In a 2013 study done by Statistics Canada, 15% of people in Canada did not have access to a regular family doctor. 

Some Canadians have difficulty accessing needed medical care when they need it. Fewer doctors mean longer than necessary wait times, shorter visits, and strained physicians. There are currently two thousand forty vacant roles for physicians as of the second quarter of this year. Despite Government efforts, that number was up from 495 in the same quarter last year. Physicians already in Canada who provide vital healthcare services in areas of crucial need can remain in Canada to permanently fill this much-needed role.

 

Opening the Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence Pathway is a positive step toward addressing physician shortage and retaining qualified doctors. 

 

"In my home province, in particular, foreign-born physicians have been helping to keep families healthy and to take care of our ageing population. Their skills are critical resources in our community, and it does not take long before they become our neighbours, friends, and fellow community leaders. Physicians resettling here in Nova Scotia or in other parts across the country is a win-win situation. The measures announced today to signal to these physicians that we want them to stay by making it easier for them to choose Canada as their permanent home."

– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Fraser announced the provision after meeting with family doctors at the Aberdeen Hospital. The exemption will be accessible immediately after the IT system is updated.

Improved access to the Express Entry program is good news for doctors already residing in Canadian communities. In addition, temporary foreign physicians can now transfer to permanent residence within six months. The move encourages foreign doctors to stay in Canada permanently. 

The provision removes a perceived barrier to Express Entry for family doctors by allowing an exemption for physicians by addressing Canada's pay-for-service model. Pay-for-service is a long-standing part of Canada's health care system's employment model; however, some physicians found the "fee-for-services" model created an unreasonable barrier to the Express Entry system and permanent residence due to the fact that self-employment was not eligible. Canada's "fee-for-service" can be considered self-employment. Allowing exclusions for physicians opens the pathway to doctors who want to remain in Canada via the Express Entry for skilled workers programs.

The average salary for doctors in Canada is $287,000. The new measures, amenable working conditions, and high wages are expected to result in temporary foreign physicians remaining in our communities and making Canada home. 

IRCC's ongoing commitment to improving its immigration system stems from acknowledging foreign workers' valuable role in keeping the Canadian economy strong. The Canadian Government continues to work alongside its partners in the provinces and territories to fill critical positions and address medical labour shortages. That's good news for Canadians, immigrants accessing the Canadian Healthcare system and immigrating physicians.

 

Filling essential healthcare roles with qualified applicants is a priority of the IRCC. To achieve this, the IRCC accepted over 8,600 new temporary and permanent residents for work in the health care sector in 2022. In the last seven years, the Express Entry and Provincial nominee programs accepted 3,600 physicians as permanent residents of Canada. 

Last year, two thousand five hundred specialized physicians, six hundred twenty nurses and 550 nurses' aides and orderlies were approved for work permits and work permit extensions.

"In my home province, in particular, foreign-born physicians have been helping to keep families healthy and to take care of our ageing population. Their skills are critical resources in our community, and it does not take long before they become our neighbours, friends, and fellow community leaders. Physicians resettling here in Nova Scotia or in other parts across the country is a win-win situation. The measures announced today to signal to these physicians that we want them to stay by making it easier for them to choose Canada as their permanent home."

– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

 

To learn more about the Express Entry program for physicians, ask your Immigration consultant about the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian experience class. 

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310048401

https://www.cihi.ca/en/a-profile-of-physicians-in-canada-2020