SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 8, 2025 - Canada is moving to tighten the link between immigration policy and health system capacity, with the federal government announcing new measures to accelerate the arrival and integration of internationally trained physicians-and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) signalling that the real prize will be pairing these policies with faster, more predictable credential recognition.
New Federal Pathways Aim to Bring Doctors into Practice Faster
In Ottawa, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Diab unveiled a package of measures to make it easier for international doctors to settle and work in Canada. The initiative includes a new fast-track entry program for foreign physicians currently working in the country on a temporary basis, as well as additional slots dedicated to doctors under the Provincial Nominee Program.
From a health system perspective, the intent is clear: move qualified physicians more quickly from temporary and precarious status into stable, community-based practice. The CMA describes the announcement as a positive signal for communities struggling with access to primary and specialty care, but also as a starting point rather than an endpoint. "This announcement represents a step in the right direction."
13,000 Trained Doctors in Canada Still Not Practicing Medicine
The CMA highlights a stark workforce mismatch: more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians currently live in Canada but are not practicing in their profession. This represents both a lost investment and a missed opportunity in the context of persistent physician shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
"At present, more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians living in Canada are not working in their field. We must redouble our efforts to recognize the medical talent already here - and to attract, welcome and retain those from around the world," said CMA President Dr. Margot Burnell. For policymakers and health system leaders, the message is that immigration reforms must be matched by licensing and credentialing pathways that are flexible, fair and clearly communicated.
Credential Recognition: The Critical Complement to Immigration Reform
A central theme in the CMA's response is that immigration policy alone will not fix access-to-care challenges if physicians spend years navigating fragmented and uncertain licensing processes. The Association is urging governments and regulators to scale up streamlined, evidence-based assessment models that can move qualified international medical graduates into supervised practice more quickly, while maintaining high standards.
"By combining these immigration policies with the expansion of proven credential recognition procedures, which allow physicians to enter practice more quickly, we will truly be able to improve access to care without compromising the quality of services provided," Burnell emphasized. For provinces, regional health authorities and medical colleges, this implies closer alignment between workforce planning, training capacity and immigration targets.
Balancing Access, Quality and Physician Wellbeing
The CMA frames the new measures within its broader vision of a sustainable, accessible health system and a medical culture that supports equity, diversity and physician wellbeing. The organization sees internationally trained physicians as a key part of that equation-but only if integration strategies are designed to avoid overburdening clinicians or creating parallel tracks that undervalue their expertise.
As a national, member-driven body representing physicians and physicians-in-training across the country, the CMA is positioning itself as a bridge between federal immigration authorities, provincial health systems and frontline clinicians. Its advocacy agenda links faster physician integration with system-level goals such as improved access, more patient-centred care and healthier communities.
Implications for Health Systems, Provinces and Communities
For provincial governments and health system leaders, the federal announcement and the CMA's response translate into several strategic priorities:
- Aligning immigration intake with regional physician workforce needs
- Investing in scalable, fair credential assessment and bridging programs
- Supporting internationally trained doctors with mentorship and practice integration
- Ensuring that expanded supply translates into real access gains for patients, not just short-term coverage fixes
If implemented coherently, the combination of expedited immigration and streamlined licensing could help alleviate chronic access bottlenecks in both urban and rural communities while reinforcing Canada's reputation as a destination for global medical talent.
For more on the Canadian Medical Association's advocacy on physician workforce and access to care, visit https://amc.ca.